What Is Singulair?
Singulair (montelukast), a leukotriene receptor antagonist, is primarily used to stop wheezing, problem respiratory, chest tightness, and coughing brought on by bronchial asthma in adults and kids. It’s sometimes added to extra medicines when bronchial asthma is troublesome to regulate.
Singulair is an oral treatment that is available in tablets, chewable tablets, and granules.
Drug Info
- Generic Identify: Montelukast
- Model Identify(s): Singulair
- Administration Route(s): Oral
- Drug Availability: Prescription
- Therapeutic Classification: Anti-inflammatory
- Obtainable Generically: Sure
- Managed Substance: N/A
- Lively Ingredient: Montelukast
- Dosage Type(s): Pill, packet
What Is Singulair Used For?
The Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) accredited Singulair for the next primary functions:
- Prevention and therapy of asthma in individuals over 1 yr previous
- Acute prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (bronchial asthma signs introduced on by train) in individuals ages 6 and older
- Reduction of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) in individuals ages 2 and older who’re illiberal of or did not reply properly to different therapies
- Reduction of perennial (year-round) allergic rhinitis in individuals ages 6 and older who’re illiberal of or did not reply properly to different therapies
The FDA issued a boxed warning (additionally known as a black field warning), its strictest warning, for critical psychiatric results in individuals taking Singulair. Your healthcare supplier will focus on the advantages and dangers of Singular with you. If you’re taking this treatment, monitor for psychiatric signs, together with, however not restricted to, agitation, despair, and suicidal ideas and behaviors.
Contact your healthcare supplier instantly if you happen to assume you might be experiencing a psychiatric impact whereas taking this treatment.
The best way to Take Singulair
The FDA affords the next suggestions to be used of oral Singulair. Nonetheless, it is best to use the product as suggested by your healthcare supplier.
The FDA recommends the next:
- For bronchial asthma and allergic reactions: Take Singulair as soon as a day within the night.
- For exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: Take Singulair at the very least two hours earlier than a bodily exercise that will set off signs.
You’ll be able to take Singulair with or with out meals. Don’t take two doses on the identical time or additional doses.
Oral granules for kids have to be given inside quarter-hour of opening the package deal, so do not open it till it is time to give it to your youngster, which you are able to do in one of many following 3 ways:
- Spoon it proper into their mouth.
- Dissolve it in a teaspoon of chilly or room-temperature formulation or breast milk solely.
- Combine it with a spoonful of applesauce, mashed carrots, rice, or ice cream (chilly or at room temperature).
Storage
Comply with these pointers for storage:
- Get rid of unused treatment by means of a pharmacy or a drugs disposal firm.
- Don’t open the bottle of Singulair till prepared to offer the primary dose.
- Stay away from kids.
- Stay away from moisture (resembling within the toilet).
- As soon as expired, get rid of treatment.
- Shield from mild, excessive warmth, and excessive chilly.
- Retailer within the hermetic authentic container.
Off-Label Makes use of
Healthcare suppliers usually prescribe Singulair off-label (for a non-FDA-approved use) for:
How Lengthy Does Singulair Take to Work?
Singulair usually begins to work instantly to scale back leukotriene ranges in your physique. Excessive leukotriene makes your signs worse. Nonetheless, it might take round per week earlier than it reaches its full impact.
What Are the Facet Results of Singulair?
This isn’t a whole record of unwanted side effects, and others might happen. A medical skilled can advise you on unwanted side effects. In case you expertise different results, contact your pharmacist or a medical skilled. It’s possible you’ll report unwanted side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.
As with different medicines, Singulair may cause unwanted side effects. Let your healthcare supplier know if in case you have any unwanted side effects that persist or worsen.
Frequent Facet Results
As with all medicines, you might expertise potential unwanted side effects whereas taking Singulair. Frequent and fewer extreme unwanted side effects embody:
Extreme Facet Results
When you’ve got any extreme unwanted side effects, name your healthcare supplier, or get medical assist immediately. Doubtlessly critical unwanted side effects of Singulair embody:
- Allergic response
- Blistering, peeling, or shedding pores and skin
- Ear ache and fever
- Flu-like signs, resembling rash, numbness, or a pins-and-needles feeling within the limbs, sinus ache and swelling
Cease taking the drug and get medical consideration immediately if you happen to expertise any of those signs of a drug allergy:
- Problem respiratory or swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Itching
- Rash or hives
- Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, or eyes
Boxed Warning
The FDA issued a boxed warning for Singulair due to potential psychiatric unwanted side effects, together with:
- Aggression
- Agitation
- Anxiousness
- Depression
- Disorientation
- Dream abnormalities
- Hallucinations
- Insomnia (problem falling asleep or staying asleep)
- Irritability
- Reminiscence impairment
- Obsessive-compulsive signs
- Restlessness
- Sleep disturbances or sleepwalking
- Stuttering
- Suicide or suicidal ideas
- Tics (sudden twitches) or tremors (rhythmic muscle contractions or shaking)
Report Facet Results
Singulair might trigger different unwanted side effects. Name your healthcare supplier if in case you have any uncommon issues whereas taking this treatment.
In case you expertise a critical aspect impact, you or your supplier might ship a report back to the FDA MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by telephone (800-332-1088).
Dosage: How A lot Singulair Ought to I Take?
Drug Content material Supplied and Reviewed by IBM Micromedex
The dose of this medication will likely be totally different for various sufferers. Comply with your physician’s orders or the instructions on the label. The next info consists of solely the typical doses of this medication. In case your dose is totally different, don’t change it except your physician tells you to take action.
The quantity of medication that you just take is determined by the power of the medication. Additionally, the variety of doses you are taking every day, the time allowed between doses, and the size of time you are taking the medication rely on the medical drawback for which you might be utilizing the medication.
For therapy and prevention of bronchial asthma:
For oral dosage type (tablets):
- Adults and kids 15 years of age and older—10 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids youthful than 15 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For oral dosage type (chewable tablets):
- Kids 6 to 14 years of age—5 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids 2 to five years of age—4 mg as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids youthful than 2 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For oral dosage type (granules):
- Kids 2 to five years of age—4 milligrams (mg) (one packet) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids 12 to 23 months of age—4 mg (one packet) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids youthful than 12 months of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction:
For oral dosage type (tablets):
- Adults and kids 15 years of age and older—10 milligrams (mg) at the very least 2 hours earlier than train. Don’t take a second dose inside 24 hours of your common dose.
- Kids youthful than 15 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For oral dosage type (chewable tablets):
- Kids 6 to 14 years of age—5 milligrams (mg) at the very least 2 hours earlier than train. Don’t take a second dose inside 24 hours of your common dose.
- Kids youthful than 6 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For perennial allergic rhinitis:
For oral dosage type (tablets):
- Adults 15 years of age and older—10 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids youthful than 15 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For oral dosage type (chewable tablets):
- Kids 6 to 14 years of age—5 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids 2 to five years of age—4 mg as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids youthful than 2 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For oral dosage type (granules):
- Kids 2 to five years of age—4 milligrams (mg) (one packet) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids 6 months to 23 months of age—4 mg (one packet) as soon as a day within the night.
- Kids youthful than 6 months of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For seasonal allergic rhinitis:
For oral dosage type (tablets):
- Adults and kids 15 years of age and older—10 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day, taken within the morning or night.
- Kids youthful than 15 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For oral dosage type (chewable tablets):
- Kids 6 to 14 years of age—5 milligrams (mg) as soon as a day, taken within the morning or night.
- Kids 2 to five years of age—4 mg as soon as a day, taken within the morning or night.
- Kids youthful than 2 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
For oral dosage type (granules):
- Kids 2 to five years of age—4 milligrams (mg) (one packet) as soon as a day, taken within the morning or night.
- Kids youthful than 2 years of age—Use and dose have to be decided by your physician.
Modifications
Singulair would not exchange your rescue inhaler and will not cease an acute bronchial asthma assault. Attempt to use it frequently to stop bronchial asthma assaults from occurring.
Missed Dose
In case you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and proceed your common dosing schedule. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one. You shouldn’t take multiple dose of Singulair in a 24-hour interval.
Overdose: What Occurs If I Take Too A lot Singulair?
Inform your healthcare supplier if you happen to take greater than the prescribed dose of Singulair.
What Occurs If I Overdose on Singulair?
In case you assume you or another person might have overdosed on Singulair, name a healthcare supplier or the Poison Management Middle (800-222-1222).
If somebody collapses or is not respiratory after taking Singulair, name 911 instantly.
Precautions
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If you may be taking this medication for a very long time, it is extremely vital that your physician test you or your youngster at common visits. This can enable your physician to see if the medication is working correctly and to test for any negative effects.
It’s possible you’ll be taking different medicines for bronchial asthma along with montelukast. Don’t cease taking these medicines and don’t scale back the dose, even when your bronchial asthma appears higher, except you or your youngster are advised to take action by your physician.
Speak to your physician or get medical care immediately if:
- Your or your kid’s signs don’t enhance after utilizing this medication or in the event that they develop into worse.
- Your short-acting inhaler doesn’t appear to be working in addition to common and you have to use it extra usually.
Montelukast might trigger some individuals to be agitated, disoriented, irritable, or show different irregular behaviors. It could additionally trigger some individuals to have suicidal ideas and tendencies or to develop into extra depressed. Report any uncommon ideas or behaviors that hassle you or your youngster, particularly if they’re new or worsen rapidly. Ensure that the physician is aware of if you happen to or your youngster have hassle sleeping, get upset simply, or begin to act reckless. Additionally inform the physician if you happen to or your youngster have sudden or sturdy emotions, resembling feeling nervous, indignant, stressed, violent, or scared.
This medication might enhance sure white blood cells (eosinophils) and will trigger Churg-Strauss syndrome (blood vessel illness). This often happens in sufferers who’ve bronchial asthma or are taking oral steroid medicines which might be being stopped or the dose is being decreased or lowered. Examine along with your physician immediately if in case you have a sense of pins and needles, numbness in your arms or legs, flu-like signs, rash, or ache or swelling of the sinuses.
Don’t take different medicines except they’ve been mentioned along with your physician. This consists of prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and natural or vitamin dietary supplements.
What Are Causes I Shouldn’t Take Singulair?
It is best to not take Singulair if you’re susceptible to, have been identified with, or have a historical past of despair, nervousness, or suicidal ideas and/or makes an attempt. This treatment might enhance the chance of the boxed warning signs. Anybody with a predisposition or historical past of those signs mustn’t take Singulair. Speak to your healthcare supplier if in case you have any considerations.
Additionally, don’t take this treatment if in case you have a hypersensitivity to montelukast or any of the product’s elements.
What Different Medicines Work together With Singulair?
At present, there aren’t any medicines believed to work together negatively with Singulair and are suggested in opposition to utilizing (contraindicate use).
Speak to your healthcare supplier about all medicines, dietary supplements, and nutritional vitamins that you just presently take. Whereas some medicine pose minor interplay dangers, others might contraindicate use or immediate cautious consideration as as to whether the professionals of therapy outweigh the cons in your case.
What Medicines Are Comparable?
Comparable leukotriene modifiers presently available on the market embody:
How Can I Keep Wholesome Whereas Taking Singulair?
Along with following your therapy plan, you too can keep your asthma under control by avoiding contact with environmental triggers, resembling secondhand smoke, mildew, and mud mites, and utilizing a peak flow meter to watch your situation. This can be a handheld system used to measure how properly your lungs launch air. Doing workouts which might be least more likely to have an effect on your bronchial asthma can even assist profit your well being.
Singulair, used at the side of different bronchial asthma medicines, ought to assist management your situation with the intention to stay a full and blissful life. It’s vital to speak to your healthcare supplier to find out if Singulair is best for you.
Medical Disclaimer
Verywell Well being’s drug info is supposed for instructional functions solely and never supposed as a substitute for medical recommendation, analysis, or therapy from a healthcare skilled. Seek the advice of your physician earlier than taking any new treatment(s). IBM Watson Micromedex gives among the drug content material, as indicated on the web page.
