Did Montelukast save my life?

Back in March I had the virus (COVID-19) but not in the same way as other people. I spent a scary night aching all over like the flu. My partner and I both had dry coughs and what is left of my sense of smell was eliminated. Later as I recovered I notice that much of my food tasted strange and sweet things were obnoxious. There was no fever.

There was rudimentary diagnosis from the NHS 111 service - and so we self-isolated - but this was never recorded anywhere. We think we got it from someone on the London Underground.

At the time loss of smell and taste was not recognised as a symptom and it was thought the disease behaved much like flu. Now doctors and scientists think differently.

When it happened I had taken Montelukast several times in the previous days as I had been to a number of functions and meals. And spring was starting up.

Could Montelukast have saved my life? It is now known that one of the ways the disease causes its damage is through an over-reaction of the immune system, of the white blood cells. Montelukast suppresses part of the immune system, the leukotrienes, a kind of white blood cells.

This study, http://www.englemed.co.uk/20/20aug101_covid19_eosinophils_link.php, found that eosinophils, the precursor of leukotrienes, are the main source of immune system over-reaction in COVID-19 infection.

So did Montelukast save my life? That night I went to bed wondering whether I would wake up in intensive care. As I say the symptoms were unusual - no fever and the aching all over - but they were unpleasant and frightening.

I have also read that people with asthma have proved surprisingly resilient against the virus - they have not faced the high death rate experienced by others who were believed to be at risk. Steroids, which also form the basis of asthma treatment, have now been proven to be an effective treatment against the virus. Could Montelukast be a useful preventative treatment for some of us?

Six months later I count myself as among those who have not fully recovered from infection. I have experienced a strange congested feeling ever since. In the spring and summer I put it down to hay fever and took more Montelukast. However I don't like taking it in the winter as since it is an immune suppressant and I get concerned it could make me vulnerable to flu. I have just had a screening blood test ordered by the GP and the one measure that is out of sorts is my white blood cell level - it is low. I might have taken Montelukast a few days beforehand. I cannot remember as it never occurred to me it might be a problem. It could be a legacy of COVID-19 infection. I wonder if the GP will know?

Indeed earlier this year I went down with flu in spite of having the flu vaccine (so it is very unlikely that my episode in March was another bout of flu). I was let down, I think, by my unstable immune system. The choice of whether to take Montelukast during the winter is now even harder.

RAS

Branded!

The splodge is on the way back and it looks as though I've been branded. There are two neat markings on my chest, one a half moon and the other slightly larger than a penny. The truth is they itch a little - and the itching makes me scratch. They are clearly growing.

I've not been taking penicillin or eating stilton cheese so it's a bit of a mystery.

However after several weeks of indulgence - could this possibly be the reason? - I've resolved to carry a stock of montelukast with me at all times and to take it daily. There have been weddings and banquets and business meals and all sorts of events. And frankly I've nearly given up  trying to get my special diet recognised. When I have a choice I choose fish - but the chances are it's cooked in a rich broth of herbs. And at weddings and set piece meals, you don't get a choice. The best you can do is to get the waiter to take it away and scrape off the gravy. Might as well do it myself.

At the wedding I toasted the bride and groom with champagne and nearly choked on it. I'm not convinced about shallots either - we keep a stock for cooking but I really don't like them, nor does my throat.

All this needs a pill beforehand and a pill afterwards

When we had a brief bout of hot sunshine in the UK I exposed myself  to it - but it was not enough. We are planning our summer holiday in a hot location so I'm hoping it will scorch the splodge away before it covers my whole chest again.

I hope so because I really cannot imagine going to my GP and explaining how I got an enormous rash over my chest.

RAS

Side-effects of Singulair

There's a new side-effect from montelukast reported by the US authorities here. And it's psychiatric. Actually it's not new but for some reason it's just hit the social media.

The range of effects includes "agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor. "

I can't say I had noticed - I was like that (irritable and restless) before I started taking the drug so I will ask members of my family. If these effects exist they are nothing like the side-effects of anti-histamines. I had a relative who went through a period of temporary madness and lost the ability to distinguish between dreams and reality. That was how anti-histamines, taken in high doses regularly, felt. Deep, realistic and frightening dreams.

I wonder if some of those who have reported side-effects have confused them with the effects of anti-histamines which they might well have been taking also.

* In fact I think I'm much calmer now than I was five years ago, perhaps thanks to giving up caffeine. Can I report a beneficial neuro-psychiatric side-effect?

RAS

Montelukast!

Montelukast - at last!

I popped in to the doctors' at midday and there was no queue. Nor was there a repeat prescription waiting. The receptionist admitted there had been some problems with email - in fact I think they've changed the address.

However she was very helpful and printed off a repeat prescription and then went off to find a GP to sign it. So I take everything back.

I popped a pill as soon as I got home. I certainly feel better now - the eye's not so sore, the jaw's barely aching and the Splodge is hardly itching. Maybe another tomorrow.

RAS