<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

The following are the comments I received in answer to my question about
reactions to this drug used for asthma control.  (Singulair is a small pill
taken once a day at bedtime.  It was just recently introduced.)

I mentioned that I was happy with the way the drug controlled my asthma and
don't want to stop using it if I don't have to.

The following are the responses, for which many thanks.
________________________

Neither does my son.  I'm going to talk to his allergist to find out if he
can stop taking inhaled steroids because the singular is working so well.
__________________________

I've heard double-talk from Merck before --their law
yers have been busy.

Recall the two definitions of gluten, one chemical, the other celiac. The
former is the alcohol soluble part of the grain, namely a portion of the
protein. Hence corn and rice would have this kind of gluten. All "starch"
on the market  is defined by the requirement that the residual protein, if
any, be less than such a low percentage as you quote --the Codex limit.
(If it has more, it can't be called "starch", a carbohydrate.) So all they
are saying is any (corn) starch in their products may have residual corn
protein of as much as that.

As to what you may be reacting to, I don't know. Short term food reactions
such as this tend to be person specific, not substance specific.
_________________________

Singulair is still a relatively new drug - it is possible that the reactions
you are experiencing might just be your body's reaction to the drug.  You
might want to contact them and report it as a side effect.

I haven't taken Singulair, but have used other Merck inhalers with no
trouble.  I dunno, maybe it's getting into your stomach somehow?  Or mostly
sticking to the back of your throat?  Try using a flowtube maybe?  I find
they really help when I'm having to take these things on a regular basis.

Breathe easy!
_______________________

If you get the information sheet that the pharmacist gets with each bottle of
medicine that he buys, you find that almost all medicines can cause that kind
of reaction in a certain amount of people.  It does not necessarily have
anything to do with gluten.
_________________________

My doctor and pharmacist both said it was GF and I took it with out any
reactions.
__________________________

Singulair was also making me worse......I went off it but never identified
the problem
_________________________

so the drug co thinks a little bit of poison is fine huh? well they are
so misinformed aren't they? your body says different
_________________________

You need to call them back and rephrase your question.  You need to know
if any of the ingredients could have been made with ingredients that
contain gluten.  I believe, though I am not altogether sure, that the
FDA states that if they list an ingredient, they don't have to say what
that ingredient was made of.  For example, I have been researching
ethanol alcohol which is found in Plax and other dental products.  I
found out that it could be made from corn or it could be made from
wheat.  There is no way of knowing.  It is only listed on the Plax
bottle as "ethanol alcohol".  This ingredient is one of the reasons some
people are very sick after visiting the dentist.  My best advice is for
you to get the list of ingredients and research each one yourself.  You
can also call the FDA on its toll free line and ask them about each
ingredient.  YOU ALSO MUST REPORT YOUR REACTION TO THE MEDICATION TO THE
FDA.  THEY KEEP TRACK OF ALL REACTIONS.  THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS:
1-888-INFO-FDA.

Hope this helps. All the best,
___________________________

I have been on Singulair for quite sometime now and I have had no reaction
whatsoever and I am extremely sensitive to gluten.
___________________________

As I am in Canada, I will enquire further from Merck Frosst in Quebec.  I
finally got their number from the research centre in the USA.

Thanks to everyone,

Jessie