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Key takeaways
The generic for Singulair is called montelukast sodium, and it’s been on the market since 2012.
There’s no meaningful difference between brand-name and generic Singulair, but some people may be sensitive to minor differences in preservatives, fillers, or coloring agents.
As with most generic drugs, montelukast sodium is more affordable than brand-name Singulair.
Singulair (montelukast sodium) is a brand-name prescription medication manufactured by Organon Pharmaceuticals. Launched in 1998, Singulair belongs to the leukotriene receptor antagonist drug class and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent symptoms and flares of chronic asthma in people at least 1 year old, prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in people at least 6 years old, relieve symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (outdoor allergies) in people at least 2 years old, and relieve symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis (indoor allergies) in people at least 6 months old. Without insurance or discounts, brand-name Singular costs about $11 per tablet. This high cost causes many people to wonder if an affordable Singular generic exists.
Is there a generic for Singulair?
Yes, generic Singulair has been available since 2012, when the original patent expired. Today, more than 15 companies make generic Singulair. Montelukast sodium, often shortened to just montelukast, is the generic name for Singulair.
According to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), generic montelukast sodium is prescribed significantly more often than brand-name Singulair. In fact, the CMS data suggest that for every 1,100 people who take generic montelukast, only one person takes brand-name Singulair.
Because brand-name Singulair isn’t very popular, some pharmacies may not keep it in stock. It’s still manufactured, though, and can be ordered by your pharmacy.
What are the differences between brand-name and generic Singulair?
Cost is the major difference between brand-name and generic Singular. Generic Singulair is significantly more affordable. Both versions of Singulair work the same way, have the same therapeutic benefits, and carry the same risks for potential side effects.
“From a medical perspective, I don’t have a reason to prefer the brand name,” says Kara Wada, MD, a board-certified allergist, immunologist, and lifestyle medicine physician based in Columbus, Ohio. “There’s really no clinical difference between brand-name Singulair and the generic, other than the company that made it and what the pill looks like. The generic is just as safe and effective.”
Manufacturers use the same active ingredient (montelukast sodium) when making generic and brand-name Singulair, but they may use different inactive ingredients, like coloring agents, fillers, and preservatives. Some people are sensitive to certain inactive ingredients, in which case the brand-name version may be a better choice.
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What is the price of generic Singulair?
Without insurance, generic montelukast retails for an average price of $393 for 90, 10 mg tablets (about a three-month supply for most people). That’s over $4 per tablet.
In contrast, brand-name Singulair retails for an average price of $995 for 90, 10 mg tablets. That’s over $11 per tablet, or 2.5 times the price of generic Singulair.
Even generic Singulair can be expensive without insurance or discounts. With a free SingleCare prescription discount card, 90, 10 mg tablets of Singulair start at $9, or about $0.10 per tablet, depending on your choice of pharmacy and location. Compared to the out-of-pocket price of brand-name Singulair, generic Singulair costs 99% less with a SingleCare coupon.
Brand vs. generic Singulair prices |
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| Brand-name Singulair | Singulair generic (montelukast sodium) | |
| Average cost without insurance | $995 for 90, 10 mg tablets of Singulair | $393 for 90, 10 mg tablets of montelukast sodium |
| SingleCare’s lowest price* | $811 for 90, 10 mg tablets of Singulair | $9 for 90, 10 mg tablets of montelukast sodium |
| Free coupons | Singulair coupons | Montelukast sodium coupons |
*Average cost at time of publication. Drug prices fluctuate and vary by pharmacy and location.
What are the off-label uses for Singulair?
Medications are considered to be used off-label when prescribed for a purpose that isn’t listed in the FDA-approved manufacturer’s label.
“Off-label, Singulair can be used for chronic urticaria (hives), atopic dermatitis (eczema), and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease,” says Michael Genovese, MD, the Chief Medical Adviser at Ascendent New York. “It may be chosen when a patient needs a once-daily oral option, can’t tolerate inhaled/topical meds, or has overlapping conditions (like asthma plus allergies).”
Dr. Wada adds that Singulair can be helpful in dealing with symptoms that don’t respond to antihistamines because it tackles inflammation in a different way. “I’ll sometimes prescribe it for stubborn hives that don’t respond to regular allergy meds, or for patients with aspirin sensitivity. It can be helpful when we’re dealing with a perfect storm of symptoms and need to try a different approach.”
However, Singulair does carry some risks, regardless of what it’s used for. Serious side effects of Singluair (montelukast) may include mental health problems like depression, anxiety, hostility, attention problems, insomnia, hallucinations, vivid dreams, and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Known as neuropsychiatric events, these possible side effects earn Singular a boxed warning from the FDA—the highest warning level a medication can receive.
Because the risks of Singulair may outweigh its benefits, Dr. Genovese says “many prescribers reserve Singulair for cases where standard therapies aren’t enough.”
How to switch from Singulair to generic Singulair
If you’ve been prescribed brand-name Singulair and want to switch to the generic form, talk to your pharmacy. Depending on state guidelines and requirements, pharmacists may be allowed to provide patients with generic medications even if a brand-name is prescribed, unless the prescriber specifically requests a brand-name drug.
Because they contain the same active ingredient, there’s no need to taper off Singulair when switching to generic montelukast sodium. You shouldn’t notice any difference in symptom relief or side effects during the transition.
However, if you’re concerned about keeping up with your daily dose of Singulair or encountering a drug shortage, talk to your healthcare provider about how to safely manage the dosage to keep your symptoms at bay. “It’s not a true withdrawal in the way we think of addiction, but when you stop Singulair, your original allergy or asthma symptoms can come back,” Dr. Wada says. She recommends only stopping Singulair under the guidance of your healthcare provider.
- Medicare Part D spending by drug, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2023)
- Singulair prescribing information, Organon Pharmaceuticals (2021)