| Pharmacy Drug Brand Name: | Singulair® |
| Active Ingredient(s): | montelukast sodium |
| Strength(s) / Dose(s): | 4 mg, 5 mg chewable tablets, and 10 mg oral tablets |
| Delivery / Dosage Form(s): | Oral tablets and chewable tablets |
| Company Manufacturer Name: | Merck Research Laboratories |
| Availability / Prescription: | Prescription only |
| FDA Approval Date *: | February 20, 1998 |
* Approval by the FDA does not necessarily mean that this drug is available for consumers at this time.
What is Singulair used for?
Singulair is taken to prevent and treat asthma. The oral tablets are for asthma patients age 15 years and older, and the chewable tablets are for pediatric patients 2 years of age and older. Do not take Singulair to relieve an asthma attack. It is not a replacement for the quick help that short acting inhalers provide during an asthma attack. It is very important that you continue taking your other asthma medicines unless your health care (healthcare) provider tells you to stop.
General Precautions with Singulair:
- It is very important that you continue to take your other asthma medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop.
- If your asthma is made worse by aspirin, you should continue to avoid aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Phenylketonuric patients should be aware that the chewable tablet for Singulair contains phenylalanine (a part of aspartame).
What should I tell my doctor or health care (healthcare) provider?
- Tell your doctor or health care (healthcare) provider if you are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
What are some possible side effects of Singulair? (This is not a comprehensive list of possible side effects reported with Singulair. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide expert advice on the possible side effects of this drug.)
- Feeling tired
- Fever
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Upset stomach
- Intestinal upset
- Heartburn
- Dizziness
- Headache
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Reports of patients’ experiences after Singulair became available include:- EM>Allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat, (which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing), hives, and itching. Stop taking Singulair and call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
- EM>A rare condition, that includes a combination of certain symptoms which do not go away or get worse, including a flu-like illness, rash, pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs, and severe inflammation of the sinuses. These have usually occurred, but not always, in people whose oral steroid medicines for asthma were being gradually lowered or stopped. Although Singulair has not been shown to cause this condition, you must tell your doctor right away if you get one or more of these symptoms.