MONTELUKAST is a prescription medicine approved to help control asthma in adults and children as young as 12 months and to help relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies in adults and children as young as 2 years.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that cannot be cured - but can be controlled. Asthma is characterized by narrowed, inflamed, and sensitive airways. Narrowed airways cause breathing to become difficult. Various conditions, called triggers, may cause airways to narrow. Inflamed airways, where the lining of airways becomes swollen, make breathing difficult. Sensitive airways react to many things, such as cigarette smoke, pollen, and cold air. Symptoms of asthma include coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness, although not all people with asthma wheeze. For some, coughing may be the only symptom of asthma. Symptoms often occur during the night or after exercise. MONTELUKAST should NOT be used for the fast relief of acute asthma attacks or to prevent or treat asthma made worse by exercise. You should still have rescue medication available and continue to take your other asthma medications unless your doctor tells you to stop. For asthma, MONTELUKAST should be taken once a day, in the evening as prescribed, whether or not you have asthma symptoms. If your symptoms get worse or you need to increase the use of your rescue inhaler, call your doctor at once.
MONTELUKAST is not a steroid and it's not an inhaler.MONTELUKAST is a different kind of asthma controller. It's a once-a-day treatment that can help control your asthma for a full 24 hours.
MONTELUKAST is a medicine called a leukotriene receptor antagonist.MONTELUKAST works by blocking substances in the body called leukotrienes. Blocking leukotrienes improves asthma symptoms. MONTELUKAST is not a steroid.
Montelukast side effects that may occur while taking this medicine include unusual weakness, stomach upset, diarrhea, dizziness, cough, headache, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, or mouth pain. If Montelukast side effects continue or are bothersome, contact your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience Montelukast side effects like hallucinations, fever, persistent sore throat or earache, or flu symptoms. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience Montelukast side effects like any of these highly unlikely but serious Montelukast side effects including stomach pain, muscle aches/cramps, irregular heartbeat, yellowing eyes/skin, numbness/tingling of the hands or feet, easy bruising or bleeding, swelling, or seizures. Montelukast side effects are unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if Montelukast side effects occur. Symptoms of Montelukast side effects include rash, itching, severe swelling, severe dizziness, or trouble breathing. If you notice other Montelukast side effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.