What is Singulair: Uses, Warnings & Interactions
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Singulair overview
BRAND NAMES:
Singulair
Generic Names:
Montelukast Sodium
Uses:
Prevents and treats asthma. Also prevents exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and treats allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
Therapeutic Classes:
Leukotriene receptor antagonist
Forms:
Packet, Tablet, Chewable Tablet
How it’s taken:
By mouth
What is Singulair used for?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Singulair for:
Allergy relief (seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis)
Asthma
Prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), which is also known as exercise-induced asthma
Although Singulair can help prevent asthma attacks, it shouldn’t be used to relieve asthma attacks when they happen. You should ask your doctor about which quick-relief inhaler to use with Singulair.
As always, talking with a health care provider is the best way to learn more about what Singulair can treat and to see if it’s the right medication for you.
Key takeaways
Singulair is a brand-name medication used for asthma, allergies, and exercise-induced asthma.
Singulair should not be used to treat sudden asthma attacks.
It’s available as tablets, chewable tablets, and packets.
Singulair is typically taken once per day.
Singulair has a boxed warning because of its risk of serious mood and behavioral changes. This includes depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts or behavior.
What form(s) does Singulair come in
Packets
4 mg
Tablets
10 mg
Chewable tablets
4 mg
5 mg
What are common Singulair doses?
Bottle 30 Tablets Chewable
Bottle 30 Tablets
Bottle 90 Tablets
Box 30 Packet
Common Singulair prescriptions
Singulair
30 tablets bottleSingulair
30 tablets chewable bottleSingulair
90 tablets bottleSingulair
30 packet boxSingulair
10mg tablet
How to take Singulair
Singulair is available in many forms including tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules.
Most people take Singulair once a day. For the treatment of asthma, it’s taken at night because asthma symptoms tend to be worse at night.
What to do if you miss a dose of Singulair
If you miss a dose of Singulair, take the next scheduled dose at your regularly scheduled time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.
Singulair contraindications
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to montelukast.
Singulair warnings
Singulair has a black box warning because of its potential to cause serious changes to your mood, thoughts, and behavior. These include aggression, depression, changes to your sleep, and suicidal thoughts and behavior. Because of this risk, it’s important to weigh the risks and benefits of taking Singulair with your doctor. Singulair should only be taken by people with allergies if they haven’t had success with other treatments.
Singulair should not be used to treat sudden asthma attacks. People with asthma should have a rescue inhaler available at all times.
Singulair is safe for most children and adults. It’s approved for use in patients at least 12 months of age for the treatment of asthma, and patients at least 6 years old for the prevention of exercise-induced asthma. Singulair can be used for seasonal allergies in people 2 years of age and older. It’s approved for people 6 months of age and older for treatment of year-round allergies.
Singulair may not be right for you if you are pregnant, and it’s not known if the medication can pass into your breast milk. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare provider about your treatment options.
Singulair interactions
Singulair may react negatively if it’s taken with certain medications. People with a sensitivity to aspirin should continue to avoid aspirin and any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) while they are taking Singulair. It may also interactwith certain prescription drugs, like rifampin and phenobarbital. Provide your doctor with a full list of your medications to avoid drug-drug interactions.
Taking Singulair with other allergy medications, like Zyrtec and Claritin, may be helpful for some people. These antihistamines work differently than Singulair to treat allergies but may be more effective when combined.
Singulair side effects
Possible side effects of taking Singulair could include:
Cough
Diarrhea
Drowsiness
Earache
Fever
Headache
Heartburn
Runny nose
Sore throat
Stomach pain
Singulair may cause more serious side effects that could require medical attention. The FDA recommends seeking medical attention if you develop mood or behavior changes, such as depression, aggression, anxiety, or trouble sleeping. Although rare, an allergic reaction to Singulair is also possible.
On Mar. 4, 2020, the FDA released a boxed warning for Singulair to bring attention to the serious mood and behavioral changes that can happen for people taking Singulair. In extreme cases, these behavioral changes have resulted in thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior. The FDA has determined that for some people, the benefits of Singulair won’t outweigh its side effects. If you’re experiencing mood or behavior changes and are taking Singulair, it’s best to speak with your doctor as soon as possible.
Sources:
Clinical question: When to take Singulair (montelukast): morning or evening, Pharm to Farm (2015)
Montelukast plus cetirizine in the prophylactic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: influence on clinical symptoms and nasal allergic inflammation, National Center for Biotechnology Information (2004)
Singulair- montelukast sodium granule Singulair- montelukast sodium tablet, chewable Singulair- montelukast sodium tablet, film coated, DailyMed (2022)
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