Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUsesHow It WorksHow to Use ItSide EffectsDosingOther Uses
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Uses
How It Works
How to Use It
Side Effects
Dosing
Other Uses
Singulair (montelukast) is a prescription medication used to treat severe allergies in children as young as 6 months.Although montelukast doesn’t usually cause drowsiness, it does come with a risk of side effects, ranging from stomach pain and nausea to sleep disturbances and agitation.
As such, Singulair is typically reserved for children who cannot tolerate otherallergy medicationsor do not respond effectively to them. Singulair is available in three forms: tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules. The form prescribed depends on the age of the person taking it.
This article discusses the prescription medication Singulair and its use in children with asthma and/or allergies. Learn about how it works, possible side effects, and dosage information.
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Uses for Singulair in Children
Not a Rescue MedicationChildren should not take Singulair for the immediate relief of anasthma attack. In the event of an asthma attack, use arescue inhalerimmediately.
Not a Rescue Medication
Children should not take Singulair for the immediate relief of anasthma attack. In the event of an asthma attack, use arescue inhalerimmediately.
How Singulair Works
The active ingredient in Singulair is montelukast sodium, a leukotriene receptor antagonist.
Leukotrienes are immune system chemicals thought to cause many allergy and asthma symptoms. Thus, blocking them with Singulair may help control asthma and allergy symptoms.
Singulair is shown to help control children’s allergy symptoms, including:
Child-Friendly Forms and How to Use Them
Forms of Singulair include:
Oral granules and chewable tablets are the easiest for young kids who can’t swallow pills and won’t drink liquid allergy medicine.
Singulair is a once-a-day medication, but children with asthma should take Singulair in the evening. Children with allergies can take it whenever convenient, preferably at about the same time each day.
Should You Take Singulair for Allergies?
Possible Side Effects of Singulair
The most common side effects include:
Less common side effects include:
Tell your healthcare provider right away if your child experiences any of the following potentially serious symptoms:
The FDA in 2009 required the manufacturer of Singulair to include a warning about an increased risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide. A 2018 study found the link between Singulair use and depression was weak and more likely represented a link between asthma and depression.Children taking Singulair and their parents should be aware of the warning.
Dosing Guidelines for Allergies
AgeDosage15 years and olderOne 10-mg tablet6 to 14 yearsOne 5-mg chewable tablet2 to 5 yearsOne 4-mg chewable tablet, or one packet of 4-mg oral granules6 to 23 monthsOne packet of 4-mg oral granulesOnly one dose of Singulair should be taken per day. Oral granules should be taken within 15 minutes after opening the packet. Singulair can be taken with or without food.If you or your child misses a dose of Singulair, take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time. If too much Singulair is taken, call a healthcare provider right away.Singulair In Asthma and BronchoconstrictionSingulair may be prescribed to prevent exercise-inducedbronchoconstriction(EIB) in people ages 6 years and older. It may also be used to prevent asthma in people ages 12 months and older.BronchoconstrictionExercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is the transient (temporary) tightening of smooth muscles in the airways following exercise.You may have EIB if you experience the following symptoms within 10 minutes of exercise:CoughingChest painTightness in the chestTrouble breathingWheezingShortness of breathExercise-induced bronchoconstriction can happen to anyone, including people with allergies and even healthy athletes who do not have asthma.For the prevention of EIB, a single dose of Singulair should be taken at least two hours before exercise. Dosage guidelines are as follows:Ages 15 years and older: Take one 10-mg tabletAges 6 to 14: Take one 5-mg chewable tabletOnly one dose of Singulair should be taken per day, regardless of how many times you exercise. If you are already taking Singulair for another reason (e.g., asthma or allergies), do not take an additional dose to prevent EIB.Clinical studies show that a single dose of Singulair has a significant protective benefit against EIB when taken two hours before exercise, and may continue to protect against EIB for up to 24 hours after it is taken in some people.AsthmaSingulair may be prescribed to help prevent asthma attacks. Like all other indications for Singulair, it may be taken once per day in the evening, with or without food.Dosage guidelines for asthma are as follows:Ages 15 years and older: Take one 10-mg tabletAges 6 to 14 years: Take one 5-mg chewable tabletAges 2 to 5 years: Take one 4-mg chewable tablet or one packet of 4-mg oral granulesAges 12 to 23 months: Take one packet of 4-mg oral granulesSingulair is not an effective treatment for an acute asthma attack. In the event of an asthma attack, use a rescue inhaler immediately.Signs of an asthma attack include:CoughingShortness of breathWheezingLight-headednessTightness or pressure in the chestFast heartbeatConfusionIf a rescue inhaler does not appear to be working, go to the ER right away.SummaryThe prescription medication Singulair is approved for use in children as young as 6 months. It can treat allergies and asthma and is available in child-friendly forms such as oral granules and chewable tablets.Singulair may be a good option for treating your child’s allergies if you are concerned about drowsiness as a side effect.This medication can have other side effects, however, such as stomach pain and upset, dizziness, and upper respiratory infection.
Only one dose of Singulair should be taken per day. Oral granules should be taken within 15 minutes after opening the packet. Singulair can be taken with or without food.
If you or your child misses a dose of Singulair, take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time. If too much Singulair is taken, call a healthcare provider right away.
Singulair In Asthma and Bronchoconstriction
Singulair may be prescribed to prevent exercise-inducedbronchoconstriction(EIB) in people ages 6 years and older. It may also be used to prevent asthma in people ages 12 months and older.
Bronchoconstriction
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is the transient (temporary) tightening of smooth muscles in the airways following exercise.
You may have EIB if you experience the following symptoms within 10 minutes of exercise:
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction can happen to anyone, including people with allergies and even healthy athletes who do not have asthma.
For the prevention of EIB, a single dose of Singulair should be taken at least two hours before exercise. Dosage guidelines are as follows:
Only one dose of Singulair should be taken per day, regardless of how many times you exercise. If you are already taking Singulair for another reason (e.g., asthma or allergies), do not take an additional dose to prevent EIB.
Clinical studies show that a single dose of Singulair has a significant protective benefit against EIB when taken two hours before exercise, and may continue to protect against EIB for up to 24 hours after it is taken in some people.
Asthma
Singulair may be prescribed to help prevent asthma attacks. Like all other indications for Singulair, it may be taken once per day in the evening, with or without food.
Dosage guidelines for asthma are as follows:
Singulair is not an effective treatment for an acute asthma attack. In the event of an asthma attack, use a rescue inhaler immediately.
Signs of an asthma attack include:
If a rescue inhaler does not appear to be working, go to the ER right away.
Summary
The prescription medication Singulair is approved for use in children as young as 6 months. It can treat allergies and asthma and is available in child-friendly forms such as oral granules and chewable tablets.
Singulair may be a good option for treating your child’s allergies if you are concerned about drowsiness as a side effect.
This medication can have other side effects, however, such as stomach pain and upset, dizziness, and upper respiratory infection.
9 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.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.Food and Drug Administration.Singulair highlights of prescribing information.Merck & Co., Inc.Patient information: Singulair.Sirois P.Leukotrienes: one step in our understanding of asthma.Respir Investig. 2019;57(2):97-110. doi:10.1016/j.resinv.2018.12.003Merck & Co., Inc.Singulair (Montelukast Sodium).Winkel JS, Damkier P, Hallas J, Henriksen DP.Treatment with montelukast and antidepressive medication—a symmetry analysis.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2018;27(12):1409-15. doi:10.1002/pds.4638Bacsi A, Pan L, Ba X, Boldogh I.Pathophysiology of bronchoconstriction: Role of oxidatively damaged DNA repair.Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016 Feb;16(1):59-67. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000232University of Rochester Medical Center.Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma attack.
9 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.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.Food and Drug Administration.Singulair highlights of prescribing information.Merck & Co., Inc.Patient information: Singulair.Sirois P.Leukotrienes: one step in our understanding of asthma.Respir Investig. 2019;57(2):97-110. doi:10.1016/j.resinv.2018.12.003Merck & Co., Inc.Singulair (Montelukast Sodium).Winkel JS, Damkier P, Hallas J, Henriksen DP.Treatment with montelukast and antidepressive medication—a symmetry analysis.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2018;27(12):1409-15. doi:10.1002/pds.4638Bacsi A, Pan L, Ba X, Boldogh I.Pathophysiology of bronchoconstriction: Role of oxidatively damaged DNA repair.Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016 Feb;16(1):59-67. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000232University of Rochester Medical Center.Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma attack.
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.
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.Food and Drug Administration.Singulair highlights of prescribing information.Merck & Co., Inc.Patient information: Singulair.Sirois P.Leukotrienes: one step in our understanding of asthma.Respir Investig. 2019;57(2):97-110. doi:10.1016/j.resinv.2018.12.003Merck & Co., Inc.Singulair (Montelukast Sodium).Winkel JS, Damkier P, Hallas J, Henriksen DP.Treatment with montelukast and antidepressive medication—a symmetry analysis.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2018;27(12):1409-15. doi:10.1002/pds.4638Bacsi A, Pan L, Ba X, Boldogh I.Pathophysiology of bronchoconstriction: Role of oxidatively damaged DNA repair.Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016 Feb;16(1):59-67. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000232University of Rochester Medical Center.Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma attack.
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.
Food and Drug Administration.Singulair highlights of prescribing information.
Merck & Co., Inc.Patient information: Singulair.
Sirois P.Leukotrienes: one step in our understanding of asthma.Respir Investig. 2019;57(2):97-110. doi:10.1016/j.resinv.2018.12.003
Merck & Co., Inc.Singulair (Montelukast Sodium).
Winkel JS, Damkier P, Hallas J, Henriksen DP.Treatment with montelukast and antidepressive medication—a symmetry analysis.Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2018;27(12):1409-15. doi:10.1002/pds.4638
Bacsi A, Pan L, Ba X, Boldogh I.Pathophysiology of bronchoconstriction: Role of oxidatively damaged DNA repair.Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016 Feb;16(1):59-67. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000232
University of Rochester Medical Center.Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma attack.
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