Score on SAT Writing. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? How to Get a Perfect 4. How to Write an Amazing College Essay. A Comprehensive Guide. Choose Your Test. What Is Singulair? How Does It Work? Singulair, or montelukast, is a leukotriene receptor antagonist LTRA. Why Use an Alternative to Singulair? Side Effects For many patients, Singulair has no major side effects. Effectiveness For whatever reason, Singulair might not effectively treat your symptoms.
Singulair is usually used to treat asthma or allergies. Top 5 Singulair Alternatives The following Singulair alternatives are often used to treat asthma or allergies. Pros: Nasonex is more effective for allergic rhinitis inflammation of the nasal passages and congestion than Singulair for most users.
Also, Nasonex virtually never causes side effects like depression, behavioral changes, or suicidal thoughts or behaviors. These are more common with Singulair, so if you have trouble with anxiety or depression, Nasonex may be a better choice.
Cons: Some negative side effects of Nasonex include headaches, bronchitis, nausea, sore throat, nosebleeds, and sores or white spots inside the nose or mouth. It should be used twice daily, starting one to two weeks before allergy season, in order to be effective by the time your allergy symptoms start.
How Does It Compare? Nasonex is generally cheaper than Singulair, and is usually as effective or more effective in treating allergy symptoms like nasal congestion and inflammation. However, Singulair is more effective for asthma symptoms and in preventing asthma attacks. One study found Flonase and other nasal sprays containing fluticasone to be superior to montelukast for allergy symptoms. However, if you experience negative side effects with Flonase, have had nasal surgery, or have an irritated nasal passage, Singulair or another oral medication might be preferable to Flonase.
Pros: One study found that Sudafed pseudoephedrine was more effective than montelukast in treating nasal congestion. Cons: Some Sudafed users report negative side effects like anxiety, restlessness, hyperactivity, a racing heartbeat, high blood pressure, insomnia, or hallucinations.
Doctors might prescribe Singulair for off-label use for some conditions. Off-label means the Food and Drug Administration FDA doesn't approve the drug for that use, but it can still be an effective treatment. For example, some people use Singulair off-label to treat chronic urticaria recurrent hives. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:. Allergic rhinitis can also affect other dimensions of your life. Research shows that allergic rhinitis negatively impacts:. You can control allergic rhinitis by avoiding allergens or taking medicine.
If you choose to take medicine, doctors recommend a step-up approach. That means that you'll start with a less powerful medicine.
Then, if that doesn't work or symptoms get worse, your doctor might prescribe a different medicine. Here's an example of a step-up approach that your doctor might recommend:. If you've tried other treatments for allergic rhinitis and they don't work, your doctor might prescribe Singulair.
But it's usually not the first-line treatment. That's because it might cause mental health disturbances in some people, including suicidal thoughts and actions.
The benefits often don't outweigh the risks. In fact, the FDA usually recommends not using Singulair for allergic rhinitis, unless other treatments don't work. Doctors often prescribe antihistamines or nasal steroid sprays to treat allergies, not Singulair. That's because Singulair might affect your mental health and isn't usually worth the risk. Cells in your body react to allergens by making a chemical called histamine.
This chemical is involved in the body's immune response, and it triggers the symptoms known as allergies. Some medicines that treat allergic rhinitis are antihistamines. These drugs block the effects of histamine. Popular antihistamines include Claritin or Allegra. Unlike these medicines, Singulair isn't an antihistamine. Instead, Singulair blocks another chemical involved in inflammation called leukotriene. By itself, Singulair isn't a great treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma.
However, it can treat both diseases to some degree. That said, some people respond well to Singulair, and it may be the only medication they need to treat their allergies or asthma. Overall, Singular is a safe medicine but side effects may still occur. Some common negative effects are:. A rare side effect of Singulair is a severe allergic reaction to the drug.
If you start to feel swelling in your throat or feel like it's hard to breathe, get medical treatment right away. Talk to your doctor if you take Singulair and experience any symptoms that worry you. Get medical care right away if you feel any serious side effects, like your throat closing or trouble breathing. Singulair is usually used to treat and prevent asthma.
Some doctors might prescribe it to treat seasonal or year-round allergies. But it's usually not the first choice because it can create mental health issues.
If you have allergies, know that Singulair isn't your only option. You can also take antihistamines, or nasal sprays.
Talk to your doctor about your treatment plan. Tell them if your symptoms aren't getting better or affect your quality of life. There are many ways to treat allergies. Rest assured that you can feel better. But it may take some trial and error to find teh best treatment for you. Montelukast starts to work immediately to reduce leukotriene levels in your body which make your symptoms worse. However, it may take around a week before it reaches its full effect.
If you're taking montelukast to prevent exercise-induced asthma, take it 2 hours before you exercise. This will mean that the levels of medicine in your body is highest when you start exercising.
Take montelukast for as long as your doctor recommends it. It will only keep working while you are taking it. There's no evidence to suggest that taking montelukast will cause any problems if taken for a long time. Most people with asthma will be given an inhaler such as beclomethasone or fluticasone.
Montelukast may be given as an extra medicine if your doctor thinks you need it. Other medicines which may help prevent asthma attacks are inhalers like salmeterol or sodium cromoglycate, or medicines like theophylline. Montelukast does not affect any type of contraception including the combined pill and emergency contraception. Read more about what to do if you're taking the pill and you're being sick or have diarrhoea. There is no firm evidence to suggest that taking montelukast will reduce fertility in either men or women.
Montelukast does not usually cause any problems with driving or riding a bike. Do not drive a car or ride a bike if montelukast makes you see things which are not there hallucinate , if you get shaking or tremors in any part of your body or you're unable to concentrate or make decisions.
It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive. Page last reviewed: 25 February Next review due: 25 February Montelukast - Brand name: Singulair On this page About montelukast Key facts Who can and cannot take montelukast How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions. About montelukast Montelukast is used to prevent the symptoms of asthma. Important Do not use montelukast to treat an asthma attack.
Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? Most people take montelukast once a day in the evening. If you take it for asthma, it's important to take it even when you have no symptoms. Montelukast is used alongside your inhalers or other asthma medicine. Some common side effects include headaches and feeling or being sick.
Montelukast can be taken by adults and children from 6 months of age. Montelukast is not suitable for people with certain health problems. Check with your doctor before taking montelukast if: you have had an allergic reaction to montelukast or any other medicine in the past you have a rare hereditary problem of galactose intolerance including Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Dosage Most people take montelukast once a day in the evening to prevent asthma or allergy symptoms. The usual dose for: adults and children aged 15 years and older — one 10mg tablet children aged 6 to 14 years — one 5mg chewable tablet children from 6 months old to 5 years — 4mg this can be granules or as a chewable tablet How to take non-chewable tablets You can take montelukast non-chewable tablets with or without food Swallow tablets whole with water, juice or milk.
How to take chewable tablets It's important to take chewable tablets at least 1 hour before food, or 2 hours after food. How to give granules to a child Montelukast granules come in a sachet with 4mg of granules inside one dose. What if I forget to take it? Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Call for advice if:. Common side effects These side effects can affect more than 1 in people. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away: diarrhoea high temperature headaches stomach ache, feeling or being sick nausea or vomiting a mild rash Serious side effects Contact a doctor immediately if: you notice mood changes and you become depressed, aggressive or you're thinking of harming yourself you see things which are not there hallucinations you're finding it harder than usual to concentrate or remember things your speech changes or you start stuttering you have shaking or trembling in any part of your body you have an unusual or fast heartbeat you get yellow skin or the whites of your eyes become yellow — this could be a sign of liver problems Serious allergic reaction It is possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to montelukast.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. What to do about: diarrhoea — drink plenty of fluids, such as water or squash to prevent dehydration.
Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
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