{"id":49528,"date":"2022-03-07T09:30:01","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T14:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=49528"},"modified":"2026-09-29T23:09:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T03:09:05","slug":"singulair-for-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/singulair-for-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Should you use Singulair for allergies?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have allergy symptoms, such as itching, sneezing, cough, a runny nose, stuffy nose, or watery eyes, you may be wondering if Singulair<\/a> (montelukast<\/a>) can help. Singulair is a prescription medication<\/a> used to prevent and control asthma (including exercise-induced asthma) and to treat certain types of allergic rhinitis. It belongs to a class of medications called leukotriene receptor antagonists<\/a>, which work by blocking chemicals that contribute to inflammation and allergy symptoms.<\/p>\n

Singulair can help relieve allergy symptoms, but it is not usually a first-choice treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends reserving it for people whose allergies have not improved enough with other medications or who cannot tolerate them because of the drug’s potential for serious mental health side effects. Antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays are generally tried first.<\/p>\n

So, how well does Singulair work for allergies, how long does it take to work, and what should you know about its side effects and dosage? Here’s what to know.<\/p>\n\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t$9.44\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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What is Singulair, and is it an antihistamine or a steroid?<\/h2>\n

Singulair is not an antihistamine (like Claritin<\/a> or Zyrtec<\/a>) or a steroid (like Flonase<\/a> or prednisone<\/a>). When your body is exposed to an allergen, your immune system releases chemicals that initiate the allergic response. These chemicals are often histamines, which commonly-known allergy medications work against. But, they can also be leukotrienes. Singulair is a leukotriene receptor blocker, a different drug class. It works by stopping these chemicals from causing symptoms of asthma and allergies.<\/p>\n

Unlike many asthma medications, Singulair is not an inhaler<\/a>. It is available as oral tablets, oral chewable tablets, and oral granules. You typically take Singulair once daily for asthma or allergies, with the exception of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction<\/a> (EIB), where you take it at least two hours before exercise.<\/p>\n

How effective is Singulair for allergies, and how long does it take to work?<\/h2>\n

Singulair can be effective in reducing allergy symptoms, but it doesn\u2019t work right away. It may start relieving symptoms within one to three days of beginning treatment. In clinical studies<\/a>, patients reported an improvement in symptoms by the second day of treatment.<\/p>\n

Unlike antihistamines, which can be taken as needed for relatively fast allergy relief, Singulair is taken once daily to prevent and control allergy symptoms. However, current FDA guidance recommends that Singulair should only be used for allergic rhinitis when other treatments, such as antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays, have not worked well enough or cannot be tolerated, rather than as a first choice of treatment. That\u2019s because Singulair comes with a boxed warning (also known as a black box warning) because of potential mental health risks.<\/p>\n

What is the FDA warning about Singulair?<\/h2>\n

In 2020, the FDA added a boxed warning<\/a> (the agency\u2019s strongest safety warning) to Singulair and all other montelukast products because of reports of serious mental health side effects. The FDA had previously warned about mood and behavior changes associated with montelukast, but a review of reported cases led the agency to strengthen the warning.<\/p>\n

Reported side effects include changes in mood or behavior, sleep problems, depression, feeling anxious, agitation, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Some side effects occurred while people were taking montelukast and improved after they stopped taking it. In other cases, symptoms began or continued after treatment ended. The FDA says<\/a> it cannot determine how likely someone is to experience these side effects because people can respond differently to the medication.<\/p>\n

For people with allergic rhinitis, the FDA recommends using montelukast only when other medications have not worked well enough or cannot be tolerated. This is because other allergy medications, including antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays, are available and have established safety records. For people taking montelukast for asthma or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), healthcare providers should weigh the potential benefits and risks.<\/p>\n

Most people tolerate Singulair well, and the more common side effects are generally mild, such as headache, stomach pain, cough, diarrhea, and upper respiratory symptoms like a sore throat or earache. The medication guide<\/a> lists the following possible mental health side effects:<\/p>\n