What is Singulair?

Singulair (montelukast) is a leukotriene (loo-koe-TRY-een) inhibitor. Leukotrienes are chemicals your body releases when you breathe in an allergen (such as pollen). These chemicals cause swelling in your lungs and tightening of the muscles around your airways, which can result in asthma symptoms.

Singulair is used to prevent asthma attacks in adults and children as young as 12 months old. Singulair is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm in adults and children who are at least 6 years old.

Singulair is also used to treat symptoms of year-round (perennial) allergies in adults and children who are at least 6 months old. It is also used to treat symptoms of seasonal allergies in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.

Do not give this medicine to a child without a doctor's advice.

Singulair is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the air passages in the lungs) in adults and teenagers who are at least 15 years old and are not already taking this medicine for other conditions.

If you already take Singulair to prevent asthma or allergy symptoms, do not use an extra dose to treat exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Important information

Singulair will not work fast enough to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medicine to treat an asthma attack. Talk with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing attacks.

Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine is not working as well as usual, or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.

If you already take Singulair to prevent asthma or allergy symptoms, do not use it for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Call your doctor at once if you have any mood or behavior changes, anxiety, depression, or thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

It may take up to several weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using Singulair as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after several weeks of treatment.

How should I take Singulair?

Take Singulair exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Singulair is usually taken once daily in the evening for prevention of asthma or allergy symptoms. For exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, take a single dose at least 2 hours before you exercise, and do not take another dose for at least 24 hours. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Singulair is not a rescue medicine. It will not work fast enough to treat an asthma attack. Use only a fast acting inhalation medicine for an asthma attack. Tell your doctor if it seems like your asthma medications don't work as well.

Swallow the regular tablet whole, with a glass of water.

The Singulair chewable tablet must be chewed completely before you swallow it.

It may take up to several weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using Singulair as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after several weeks of treatment.

If you also take a steroid asthma medicine, do not stop using it suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

Asthma is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice, even if you have no asthma symptoms.

Store Singulair at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not open a packet of oral granules until you are ready to use the medicine.

Singulair

A commonly prescribed medication, Singulair helps in the prevention of asthma attacks in individuals aged 12 months and above. Most people know this drug as montelukast. The drug comes in handy in providing relief for outdoor, indoor and seasonal allergies. On top of this, it is also used in the prevention of bronchospasm that’s usually exercise-induced. 

What is Singulair?

Singulair was developed by a Company known as Merck mainly for the maintenance, treatment and relieving of allergy symptoms brought about by asthma. The drug is a powerful leukotriene receptor and antagonist that works by blocking leukotriene. Leukotrienes are the chemicals released by your body when an allergen like pollen gets into your system through breathing.

Doctors usually prescribe the drug for the long-term treatment of asthma. It has also been found to relieve symptoms brought about by allergic rhinitis like runny and stuffy noses and also sneezing.

Who uses Singulair?

If your doctor has prescribed this drug for you, it is advisable for you to make sure that you take it once per day at the same time. There are a number of conditions that this drug treats.

• Bronchospasm prevention that is exercise-induced
• Nose inflammation as a result of a patient suffering from an allergy
• It is used as an asthma controller medication

For individuals who are using the drug to prevent asthma that is exercise induced, it is important to note that it should be taken exactly two hours before you start exercising. It is also advisable that you have your rescue inhaler just in case you end up having a severe reaction. For those individuals who have already taken their daily dose of the drug, then a prevention dose is not necessary.

An important point to note is that Singulair should not be used in the treatment of sudden asthma attacks. Your doctor should prescribe you with an inhaler for these kinds of attacks. Make sure that you speak to your doctor so that he or she can know how to better handle your attacks. 

If you are taking Singulair for the treatment of asthma, make sure that you continue taking all the other drugs that you were prescribed. It is crucial for you not to stop any medication prescribed nor decided to change the dosage you were given unless indicated by your doctor. 

Another important point on the use of montelukast is that it controls the symptoms that are brought about by asthma. However, as much as it is used in control of allergic rhinitis, it should be noted that it does not cure these conditions. Do not suddenly stop taking your prescribed medication until you speak to a medical professional or doctor. 

How does Singulair work?

The drug mainly works by blocking leukotrienes molecules. These leukotrienes tend to trigger or rather worsen allergies and asthma. It relieves the symptoms and makes breathing easy by reducing the inflammation of your airways. Leukotrienes molecules have also been found to contribute in the way that asthma develops which in turn brings about effects like:

• Airflow Obstruction
• Swelling and inflammation of airways
• Airway constriction
• increased build-up and secretion of mucus

When an individual inhales or breathes in asthma triggers like pollen, the body reacts by releasing the leukotrienes molecules. These molecules end up causing redness and swelling in the airways and lungs. On top of this, the muscles that are in the airways end up tightening which now results in asthma symptoms like:

• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing

When Montelukast blocks these molecules, asthma symptoms and other triggers and prevented.

How to use Singulair?

Before you start using Singulair, take the tie to read the leaflet with patient information if available. If there are any questions you may have, ask your pharmacist or your doctor. Take the medication orally either with food or without as directed by your doctor. The dosage you will get is mostly based on your condition as well as your response to the treatment.

The drug should be taken at the exact time every single day. If the drug has been prescribed for asthma, allergies or both, make sure that you take it in the evening. If you are only taking it for allergy prevention, then you can choose between morning and evening which will work best for you. 

Side effects of Singulair

Most people experience the following side effects:

• Sore throat
• A cough
• Sinus infection
• Diarrhea
• Upper respiratory infection
• Ear infection
• Stomach pain
• Earache

Adverse effects include:

• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Muscle weakness or pain
• Hives or skin rash

Mood and behavior changes

• Anxiety
• Hostility
• Aggression
• Hallucinations
• Suicidal thoughts
• Sleepwalking
• Confusion
• Unpleasant or vivid dreams
• Depression
• Tremor
• Insomnia

Conclusion

Montelukast or Singulair is useful in the control of asthma. It is available in regular tablets, chewable tablets and granules depending on the age of the individual with asthma or inflammation. However, the drug may come with serious side effects which are why it should only be taken under prescription.