Singulair (Montelukast)

Singulair (Montelukast) Medication Information:

What is Singulair?

Singulair is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of asthma, exercise-induced asthma, and allergic rhinitis. It contains the active ingredient montelukast and belongs to a class of medicines called leukotriene receptor antagonist.

The medicine works by blocking a substance in the body called leukotriene which causes mucus production, tightening of airway muscles, inflammation, asthma, and allergies. Singulair helps to reduce inflammation, and swelling in the airways and improve symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Uses and Benefits of Singulair:

• Asthma: Singulair is approved for the treatment of asthma in adults and children 1 year of age and older. The medicine improves symptoms of asthma such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and wheezing. But Singulair should not be used for a sudden asthma attack or breathing problem.
• Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB): Singulair is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in patients 6 years of age and older.
• Allergic Rhinitis: The medicine helps to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis such as sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, and watery and itchy eyes. Singulair is approved for outdoor allergies (seasonal allergic rhinitis) in patients 2 years of age and older and indoor allergies (perennial allergic rhinitis) in patients 6 months of age and older.

Side Effects of Singulair:

Patients taking Singulair may experience some common symptoms, including:

• Upper respiratory infection.
• Sinusitis
• Flu
• Fever
• Headache
• Runny nose, sore throat, cough.
• Stomach pain, Diarrhea
• Pain in ears.

Talk to your doctor immediately if you develop serious side effects including:

• Increase in the number of eosinophils (a type of WBC) in the body.
• Systemic vasculitis i.e. inflammation of the blood vessels.
• Pain, numbness, tingling in the arms and legs
• Pain and Swelling of the sinus.
• Muscle weakness, uncontrolled muscle movements, speech impairments.
• Dizziness, breathing difficulties.
• Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat.

How to take Singulair?

The recommended dosage of Singulair depends on the medical condition and age of the patients:

• For Asthma patients: One tablet of Singulair daily with or without food in the evening as prescribed by your doctor.
• For EIB patients: One tablet at least 2 hours before exercise.
• For allergic rhinitis patients: Once daily either in the morning or the evening.

Dosage:

• 15 years and older: One 10mg tablet.
• 6 to 14 years: One 5mg chewable tablet.
• 2 to 5 years: One 4mg chewable tablet or 4mg oral granules packet.
• 6 to 23 months: One 4mg oral granules packet.

Singulair Drug Interactions:

Clinical studies have shown that the recommended dose of Singulair does not affect the efficacy and safety of drugs when co-administered with medicines such as theophylline, prednisone, prednisolone, fexofenadine, digoxin, warfarin, gemfibrozil, itraconazole, thyroid hormones, NSAIDs, benzodiazepines, Cytochrome P450 enzyme inducers, and oral contraceptives.

Safety Information:

• Do not take Singulair if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
• Patients taking Singulair should be monitored carefully for neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms such as anxiety, aggression, depression, hallucinations, memory impairment, and suicidal thoughts.
• Do not take aspirin or NSAIDs while taking Singulair if you have aspirin sensitivity.
• Patients should keep a quick-relief inhaler with them for sudden attacks of asthma.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, mental problems, phenylketonuria, or other health conditions.
• Consult your doctor about the safety of medicine if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

References:

• https://www.organon.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/s/singulair/singulair_pi.pdf
• https://www.rxlist.com/singulair-drug.htm#warnings
• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6485-8277/singulair-oral/montelukast-oral/details