SINGULAIR

Singulair, also recognized as montelukast, is a prescription medication designed to prevent asthma attacks in individuals aged 12 months and older. It also offers relief for seasonal, indoor, and outdoor allergies, as well as allergic rhinitis. Doctors often prescribe Singulair for long-term asthma management.

Both drugs are effective for their licensed indications. Your doctor will discuss which medication is the most suitable considering your health circumstances and condition which is being treated.

If you are aware of your sensitivity to aspirin or other NSAIDs, it is crucial to continue avoiding them while taking Singulair. Note that the 4mg and 5mg chewable tablets contain phenylalanine.

This medication operates by inhibiting specific natural substances known as leukotrienes, which can trigger or exacerbate asthma and allergy symptoms. It facilitates easier breathing by reducing inflammation in the airways.

Follow your doctor’s guidance and continue taking SINGULAIR daily, even in the absence of asthma symptoms or during an asthma attack. Should your asthma worsen while on SINGULAIR, promptly inform your doctor. Remember, SINGULAIR is not intended for the treatment of acute asthma attacks.

In terms of its effects, it helps reduce nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, and eye allergies. For individuals with allergies and asthma, it also aids in reducing inflammation in the airways by blocking the action of a chemical called leukotriene, which causes nasal passages to swell and produce excess mucus.

Singulair, or montelukast, is a prescription medication used to proactively prevent asthma symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing. Additionally, it can prevent asthma symptoms triggered by exercise and provide relief from hay fever (allergies).

Serious side effects associated with Singulair include blistering, peeling, or shedding of the skin, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, and ear pain.

Singulair is available in tablet, chewable tablet, and oral granule forms. Common side effects of montelukast encompass upper respiratory infections, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, stomach pain, diarrhea, earache, ear infection, flu, runny nose, and sinus infection.

No interactions were identified between Singulair and Zyrtec.

In 2008/09, the FDA updated the ‘Warnings and Precautions’ section for Singulair to include potential side effects such as agitation, aggressive behavior or hostility, anxiety, depression, disorientation, unusual dreams, hallucinations, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thoughts, and tremors.

Singulair (montelukast) is not classified as an antihistamine; it is categorized as a leukotriene receptor blocker. Leukotriene is a chemical that the body releases in response to exposure to allergens such as pollen.

If you are concerned about drowsiness as a side effect, Singulair may be a suitable choice for treating your child’s allergies. However, please note that this medication can have other side effects, including stomach pain, upset stomach, dizziness, and upper respiratory infections.

Montelukast may not be suitable for certain individuals. To ensure safety, inform your doctor if you have ever experienced an allergic reaction to montelukast or any other medication or if you have a rare hereditary condition related to galactose intolerance, such as Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

No interactions were identified between Singulair and Zyrtec.

Most Singulair side effects tend to remain consistent even with extended treatment, at least up to 2 years. While discontinuing Singulair may not result in withdrawal symptoms or worsen asthma symptoms, it is advisable to consult a healthcare provider first.

Singulair (montelukast) has a relatively short half-life of about 4-7 hours, with peak blood levels occurring 3-4 hours after a dose. For this reason, healthcare providers and the prescribing information for Singulair recommend taking it at night to align peak drug levels with symptom onset.

Potential behavioral side effects associated with Singulair include agitation, aggression, hostility, sleep disturbances, vivid dreams, sleepwalking, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, irritability, restlessness, tremors, and suicidal thoughts or actions.

Take this medication at the same time each day. If you are taking it for asthma or both asthma and allergies, take your dose in the evening. If you are using montelukast solely to prevent allergies, you can take your dose either in the morning or evening.

Montelukast is a valuable medication for treating asthma in both children and adults, although it may trigger nightmares when initiating treatment.

Abruptly discontinuing montelukast may lead to withdrawal symptoms, which can vary from person to person but may include increased asthma symptoms and allergy symptoms.

Montelukast is not expected to cause weight gain or weight loss. Clinical trials did not report these changes in weight as side effects of montelukast. While some asthma treatments, such as prednisone, may lead to weight gain, montelukast does not share this side effect.

Singulair, also known as montelukast, is a prescription medication used to prevent symptoms of asthma, including difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing. It is also prescribed to prevent asthma symptoms during physical activity and to relieve hay fever (allergies).

It is crucial to advise patients and caregivers not to discontinue montelukast without consulting a doctor or asthma nurse first, as infrequent reports have indicated adverse reactions affecting sleep, behavior, and mood in some individuals taking montelukast.

To ensure consistent effectiveness, take your medication at the same time daily, typically in the evening. If you are using Singulair to prevent exercise-induced asthma, remember to take it 2 hours before engaging in physical activity.

Montelukast (Singulair) is a well-established medication used for treating allergies and asthma over the years. It is effective in addressing sneezing, nasal congestion, and eye symptoms in allergy sufferers and can also help alleviate inflammation in some asthma patients. Montelukast is administered in the form of a daily pill and is not a steroid.

In 2020, the FDA mandated the inclusion of a ‘black box’ warning on Singulair’s label due to emerging evidence of serious mental health side effects, including suicidal thoughts or actions, reported by patients taking the medication.

Both the brand-name and generic versions of Singulair are exclusively available by prescription and are not available over-the-counter (OTC). Over-the-counter alternatives for allergy relief include antihistamines, nasal sprays, and decongestants.

In 2023, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. issued a recall for specific lots of montelukast sodium oral granules in the United States due to the detection of an impurity exceeding allowable limits.

The FDA recommends trying other medications before considering Singulair (montelukast) for allergic rhinitis or mild asthma symptoms, as it may increase the risk of agitation, depression, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts and actions. In 2020, Singulair received a black box warning label to highlight these risks.

This medication should be used with caution in individuals with a history of mental illness or psychosis, as well as those with asthma or a history of severe allergic reactions to aspirin or other NSAIDs.

The FDA has mandated a Boxed Warning indicating that serious mental health side effects, including suicidal thoughts or actions, have been reported in patients taking montelukast (Singulair) for asthma and allergies.

Montelukast, the active ingredient in Singulair, received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of asthma and allergies. However, a boxed warning was issued following a review of evidence indicating serious behavior and mood-related side effects associated with Singulair.

As per FDA guidance, montelukast oral tablets should not be the primary treatment option, particularly for mild allergic rhinitis symptoms. This caution is attributed to the drug’s potential for serious side effects, including changes in behavior or mood, such as suicidal thoughts.

Patients and caregivers should be informed that discontinuing montelukast should only be done after consulting with a doctor or asthma nurse, as adverse reactions affecting sleep, behavior, and mood have been infrequently reported in some individuals taking montelukast.

According to the FDA, side effects associated with Singulair and its generic equivalents may encompass suicidal thoughts and actions, agitation, aggressive behavior or hostility, attention problems, vivid dreams, depression, disorientation, confusion, anxiety, hallucinations, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Weight gain and weight loss are not typically expected as side effects of montelukast. Clinical trials did not report significant changes in weight associated with montelukast tablets or chewable tablets. It’s important to note that weight gain may be linked to other asthma treatments, such as oral steroids like prednisone, but this is not a side effect of montelukast.