Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksUsesAlternativesDosageSide EffectsInteractions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
Uses
Alternatives
Dosage
Side Effects
Interactions
Singulair (montelukast) is a prescription medication that relieves allergy symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, and itchiness. The drug also reduces inflammation in the airways, which helps prevent asthma attacks.
Singulair may cause reactions including headache, stomach pain, and earache. The drug is also associated with mental health side effects, so it’s only recommended if other allergy treatments have failed to work.
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In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required a Boxed Warning for montelukast (Singulair) due to the drug’s potential mental health side effects, including thoughts of self-harm and suicide.If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required a Boxed Warning for montelukast (Singulair) due to the drug’s potential mental health side effects, including thoughts of self-harm and suicide.
If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Singulair blocksleukotrienes, a type of chemical involved in the inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma.This prevents the nasal passages from swelling and increasing mucous production. It also stops the airways from tightening, which can prevent anasthma attack.
There are two main types of allergic rhinitis:
Symptoms of both types of allergic rhinitis include:
Off-Label UsesSome healthcare providers prescribe Singulair off-label to treat chronic urticaria (recurrent hives) or atopic dermatitis (eczema).Off-label use of a prescription medicine means the FDA hasn’t approved the drug for that purpose, but it can still be an effective treatment.
Off-Label Uses
Some healthcare providers prescribe Singulair off-label to treat chronic urticaria (recurrent hives) or atopic dermatitis (eczema).Off-label use of a prescription medicine means the FDA hasn’t approved the drug for that purpose, but it can still be an effective treatment.
Alternative Treatments
Singulair should not be the first drug you try for allergies. Because of the medication’s risks, the FDA recommends it only be prescribed for people who can’t tolerate other allergy medicines or can’t be treated effectively with other drugs.
Your healthcare provider should recommend a step-up approach with medication. That means that you’ll start with a drug that has a low risk of side effects and if that doesn’t work (or your symptoms worsen), you might try a different option.
Allergy treatmentsthat might be recommended either individually or in tandem include:
Singulair is taken once a day and research suggests it starts to work within a few hours.The typical dosages for allergies are as follows:
Singulair has not yet been determined safe for people less than 24 months of age.
Tell your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following side effects:
Stop taking Singulair and contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any mood or behavior changes, such as confusion, anxiety, agitation, irritability, feelings of depression, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Call 911A rare side effect of Singulair is a severe allergic reaction to the drug. If you feel swelling in your throat or have difficulty swallowing or breathing, call 911.
Call 911
A rare side effect of Singulair is a severe allergic reaction to the drug. If you feel swelling in your throat or have difficulty swallowing or breathing, call 911.
Some medications may interact with Singulair, so tell your healthcare provider about every drug and supplement you take. Singulair should not be prescribed for people taking: rifampin or rifabutin (antibiotics); or seizure medications such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and phenytoin.
Summary
Singulair is a prescription drug used to prevent asthma symptoms and treat allergic rhinitis (allergies). If you’ve tried other treatments for allergies and they didn’t work, then your healthcare provider might prescribe Singulair.
Keep in mind that the FDA has issued a warning for this drug due to possible severe mental health side effects. If you experience any thoughts of self-harm or suicide, stop taking this medication and get help immediately.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaur G, Dhingra R, Singh M, Kaur M.Montelukast: a better alternative than antihistaminics in allergic rhinitis.International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.2017(3)2. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20171185U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires stronger warning about risk of neuropsychiatric events associated with asthma and allergy medication Singulair and generic montelukast.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires boxed warning about serious mental health side effects for asthma and allergy drug montulekast (Singulair); advises restricting use for allergic rhinitis.Cuzzo B, Lappin SL.Physiology, Leukotrienes. [Updated 2022 Aug 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Allergic rhinitis.Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Allergic rhinitis: your nose knows.Alkeraye S, AlRuhaimi DK.The addition of montelukast for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.Cureus. 2021 Jul 3;13(7):e16137. doi:10.7759/cureus.16137Chin WK, Lee SWH.A systematic review on the off-label use of montelukast in atopic dermatitis treatment.Int J Clin Pharm. 2018 Oct;40(5):963-976. doi:10.1007/s11096-018-0655-3National Library of Medicine.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Montelukast. 2023.Drugs.com.Singulair.Aypak C, Türedi Ö, Solmaz N, Yıkılkan H, Görpelioğlu S.A rare adverse effect of montelukast treatment: ecchymosis.Respir Care. 2013;58(9):e104-6. doi:10.4187/respcare.02298
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kaur G, Dhingra R, Singh M, Kaur M.Montelukast: a better alternative than antihistaminics in allergic rhinitis.International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.2017(3)2. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20171185U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires stronger warning about risk of neuropsychiatric events associated with asthma and allergy medication Singulair and generic montelukast.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires boxed warning about serious mental health side effects for asthma and allergy drug montulekast (Singulair); advises restricting use for allergic rhinitis.Cuzzo B, Lappin SL.Physiology, Leukotrienes. [Updated 2022 Aug 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Allergic rhinitis.Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Allergic rhinitis: your nose knows.Alkeraye S, AlRuhaimi DK.The addition of montelukast for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.Cureus. 2021 Jul 3;13(7):e16137. doi:10.7759/cureus.16137Chin WK, Lee SWH.A systematic review on the off-label use of montelukast in atopic dermatitis treatment.Int J Clin Pharm. 2018 Oct;40(5):963-976. doi:10.1007/s11096-018-0655-3National Library of Medicine.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Montelukast. 2023.Drugs.com.Singulair.Aypak C, Türedi Ö, Solmaz N, Yıkılkan H, Görpelioğlu S.A rare adverse effect of montelukast treatment: ecchymosis.Respir Care. 2013;58(9):e104-6. doi:10.4187/respcare.02298
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kaur G, Dhingra R, Singh M, Kaur M.Montelukast: a better alternative than antihistaminics in allergic rhinitis.International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.2017(3)2. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20171185U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires stronger warning about risk of neuropsychiatric events associated with asthma and allergy medication Singulair and generic montelukast.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires boxed warning about serious mental health side effects for asthma and allergy drug montulekast (Singulair); advises restricting use for allergic rhinitis.Cuzzo B, Lappin SL.Physiology, Leukotrienes. [Updated 2022 Aug 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Allergic rhinitis.Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Allergic rhinitis: your nose knows.Alkeraye S, AlRuhaimi DK.The addition of montelukast for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.Cureus. 2021 Jul 3;13(7):e16137. doi:10.7759/cureus.16137Chin WK, Lee SWH.A systematic review on the off-label use of montelukast in atopic dermatitis treatment.Int J Clin Pharm. 2018 Oct;40(5):963-976. doi:10.1007/s11096-018-0655-3National Library of Medicine.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Montelukast. 2023.Drugs.com.Singulair.Aypak C, Türedi Ö, Solmaz N, Yıkılkan H, Görpelioğlu S.A rare adverse effect of montelukast treatment: ecchymosis.Respir Care. 2013;58(9):e104-6. doi:10.4187/respcare.02298
Kaur G, Dhingra R, Singh M, Kaur M.Montelukast: a better alternative than antihistaminics in allergic rhinitis.International Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery.2017(3)2. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20171185
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires stronger warning about risk of neuropsychiatric events associated with asthma and allergy medication Singulair and generic montelukast.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.FDA requires boxed warning about serious mental health side effects for asthma and allergy drug montulekast (Singulair); advises restricting use for allergic rhinitis.
Cuzzo B, Lappin SL.Physiology, Leukotrienes. [Updated 2022 Aug 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.
American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.Allergic rhinitis.
Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School.Allergic rhinitis: your nose knows.
Alkeraye S, AlRuhaimi DK.The addition of montelukast for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.Cureus. 2021 Jul 3;13(7):e16137. doi:10.7759/cureus.16137
Chin WK, Lee SWH.A systematic review on the off-label use of montelukast in atopic dermatitis treatment.Int J Clin Pharm. 2018 Oct;40(5):963-976. doi:10.1007/s11096-018-0655-3
National Library of Medicine.Nasal corticosteroid sprays.
National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information.Montelukast. 2023.
Drugs.com.Singulair.
Aypak C, Türedi Ö, Solmaz N, Yıkılkan H, Görpelioğlu S.A rare adverse effect of montelukast treatment: ecchymosis.Respir Care. 2013;58(9):e104-6. doi:10.4187/respcare.02298
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