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Montelukast
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Description
Montelukast is used to prevent and control the symptoms of asthma (narrowing of the airways). It is also used to prevent breathing difficulty during exercise. It also provides relief from the symptoms of allergy such as watery eyes, sneezing, difficulty in breathing, chest tightness, etc. It works by preventing the narrowing of the windpipe and also provides relief from allergic symptoms.
Montelukast may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, fever and diarrhoea. These effects are mild and may subside by themselves. Consult your doctor if they bother for a long time. Avoid driving and/or operating machines if you feel dizzy or sleepy.
Montelukast is available as a tablet, DT, chewable tablet, granules, syrup and suspension. Take Montelukast tablet with or without food, as directed by your doctor. Take this medicine 2 hours before exercise to prevent breathing problems caused during exercise. Take this medicine at the same time every day for better results. Never take more than the prescribed dose. Avoid the discontinuation of this medication unless suggested by your doctor. Avoid the use of this medicine for sudden asthma attacks. Consult your doctor to understand what medicine should be taken in case of a sudden attack.
Montelukast is not recommended if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have any mental illness or liver problems. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Montelukast
Headache
Stomach pain
Body aches or Pain
Pus in urine
Agitation and anxiety
Skin rash
Heart burn
Pain in the ears
Blurred vision
Nausea or Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Fever
Dizziness
Uses of Montelukast
What is it prescribed for?
Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which the airways narrow and may produce excess mucous. Montelukast is used in the treatment of asthma in children and adults along with other medicines.
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is an allergy that causes swelling in the nose. It may occur due to dust, pollution, or eating food you are allergic to. Montelukast is used to treat the symptoms of allergy such as runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, itching (especially eyes, nose, mouth, throat etc.) in children and adults.
Exercise-induced bronchospasm
Bronchospasm is a contraction of the airways making it difficult to breathe. Montelukast is used to prevent bronchospasm (breathing difficulty) caused during exercise in children and adults.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The time taken for Montelukast to show its effect is not known. However, it may take a week to show its full effect.Duration of effect
The effect of Montelukast lasts for an average duration of 24 hours.Safe with alcohol?
Avoid the consumption of alcohol while taking Montelukast as it may make you dizzy. Avoid driving or operating machines if you feel dizzy or drowsy. Use of alcohol may also increase the risk of liver damage.Is it habit forming?
No habit forming tendency was reported for Montelukast.Usage in pregnancy?
Animal studies indicate that Montelukast does not harm your foetus. However, due to lack of human data, this medicine should be used in pregnancy if clearly needed. Consult your doctor and discuss the possible risks and benefits before taking this medicine.Usage while breast-feeding?
Montelukast may be used while breastfeeding if necessary. The risk of side effects in your baby is fairly low but caution should be exercised. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Allergy
Avoid taking Montelukast if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Animal studies indicate that Montelukast does not harm your foetus. However, due to lack of human data, this medicine should be used in pregnancy if clearly needed. Consult your doctor and discuss the possible risks and benefits before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
Montelukast may be used while breastfeeding if necessary. The risk of side effects in your baby is fairly low but caution should be exercised. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Acute asthma attack
Acute asthma attack is a sudden onset of difficulty in breathing due to narrowing of the windpipe. Montelukast is not recommended for use in such cases.
Behaviour and mood changes
Use Montelukast with caution as it may cause changes in your behaviour and mood. Inform your doctor if if you have a pre-existing mental illness. Symptoms such as agitation, irritability, anxiety, unusual dreams, suicidal thoughts, etc. should be reported to your doctor immediately. Your doctor may prescribe a suitable alternative based on your clinical condition.
Other Medicines
Montelukast may interact with some medicines and cause undesired effects. Hence, inform your doctor about all your current medicines including any herbs and supplements before beginning treatment with this medicine.
Churg- Strauss syndrome
Churg-Strauss syndrome is a condition in which the walls of the blood vessels swell. Montelukast causes an increase in the disease-fighting white blood cells in your blood, leading to this condition. Inform your doctor if you experience fever, joint pain, numbness and weakness in any part of your body.
Driving or operating machines
If you feel dizzy or drowsy while taking Montelukast, avoid driving or operating heavy machines.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose of Montelukast as soon as you remember. However, skip the missed dose if it is time for the next scheduled dose. Do not take double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Reach the nearest emergency medical department in case of an overdose with Montelukast.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Avoid the consumption of alcohol while taking Montelukast as it may make you dizzy. Avoid driving or operating machines if you feel dizzy or drowsy. Use of alcohol may also increase the risk of liver damage.
Interaction with Medicine
Carbamazepine
Fluconazole
Phenytoin
Phenobarbital
Disease interactions
Liver Disease
Use Montelukast with caution if you have liver problems as this medicine may further increase the risk of liver damage. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Tablet: Take Montelukast with or without food as instructed by your doctor. Avoid taking more or less than the prescribed dose.
Consult your doctor if you experience any undesirable effects that persist or worsens.
Chewable Tablet: Give Montelukast chewable tablet to your child one hour before a meal, or two hours after a meal. Allow your child to chew the tablet before swallowing.
Dispersible Tablet: Disperse this medicine in a teaspoonful of water or a glass of water before administration.
Granules: Pour the granules in your child's mouth and allow him/her to swallow. Alternatively, you can mix the granules into a small amount of cold, soft food (such as yoghurt, ice cream or mashed fruit or vegetables) and give it to your child.
Syrup/Suspension: Give Montelukast Syrup/Suspension to your child as instructed by your doctor. Shake the bottle well before measuring the dose.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Montelukast acts by blocking the response of a chemical substance and reduces swelling in the airways. Thus, it eases breathing and also relieves the symptoms of allergy.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Leukotriene receptor antagonist, Respiratory agents
Schedule
Schedule H
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Montelukast | C35H36ClNO3S - PubChem [Internet]. Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 23 March 2017]. Available from:
Montelukast: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 23 March 2017]. Available from:
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Montelukast 10 mg film coated tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 25 August 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Montelukast 5 mg Chewable Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 6 September 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 6 September 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Singulair Paediatric 4 mg Granules - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 6 September 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 6 Sep 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.