Explanation

Montelukast (also called Singulair®) is a medicine to help control your asthma.

Montelukast is a leukotriene antagonist. This means it blocks the activity of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are hormones in your body that can cause symptoms of asthma.

What does montelukast do?

By blocking leukotrienes, montelukast helps to open up the airways in your lungs so that you can breathe more easily. It helps to stop asthma attacks from happening.

What does it look like?

Montelukast comes as granules, as a tablet and as a chewable tablet that you swallow.

When do I have to take it?

It is important to take montelukast every day to help prevent asthma attacks.

You will probably take montelukast once a day at night time. Your doctor will tell you exactly how much you need to take.

You may have to take montelukast to stop breathlessness and wheezing caused by exercise. If so, then you should take the medicine at least 2 hours before doing exercise or running around.

DON'T take montelukast to treat a sudden attack of breathlessness or wheeziness - it won't help. Your doctor will have given you an inhaler to use if you feel wheezy or out of breath. Make sure you carry this inhaler around with you all the time, so that you always have it if you need it.

You can take montelukast with or without food - UNLESS you take the chewable tablets. The chewable tablets should only be taken 1 hour before eating or 2 hours after eating.

But what if I don't feel like taking it?

If you don't take your montelukast regularly then it won't work properly. The leukotrienes will be free to start causing problems in your lungs and you might start feeling breathless and wheezy. You might even have an asthma attack.

So, make sure you keep taking your montelukast every day! Even if you feel better, you still need keep taking it.

Don't stop taking it unless your doctor tells you to.

What should I do if I forget to take it?

Try and take your montelukast every day like your doctor told you to. Even if the adults looking after you forget - go and remind them!

If you do forget to take your montelukast, then don't worry. Just take the next dose at the usual time.

Don't take twice as much the next time to try and make up for your missed dose - remember the three Ds: DON"T DOUBLE DOSE!

How much do I take?

This depends on how old you are and how bad your asthma is. Your doctor will tell you exactly how much you need to take.

The right amount is important. It's the best way to stay well, without getting side effects.

What are the most likely side effects I might I get if I take montelukast?

The most common side effects that you might get if you are taking montelukast are:

Sore tummy

Headache

Feeling thirsty

Feeling sick or being sick

Diarrhoea (runny poos)

Feeling nervous and excitable

Tell your doctor if any of these side effects get really bad, or if you notice anything else strange after taking montelukast.

What other side effects might I get?

The other side effects that can happen after taking montelukast are very rare, so you're probably not likely to get them. Some of these side effects can be serious though, so it is important to look out for them, just in case.

Tell your doctor or hospital straight away:

If you start feeling like you have got the flu, if you get tingling or in your arms and legs or they feel numb, if your breathing gets worse, and/or if you have a rash. One or more of these symptoms might mean you have a problem called Churg-Strauss syndrome, although this is very, very rare in kids

If you show signs of an allergic reaction, like a rash and/or swelling of your face, lips, tongue and/or throat

If you start feeling really sad, or have thoughts about hurting or killing yourself

If your urine is really dark, or if your skin and eyes look yellow

If you have a cough that doesn't go away, or feel like your asthma is getting worse

Is it safe for me to be taking montelukast?

Before using montelukast, you should tell your doctor about any other medical problems that you know you have.

Especially if you:

have phenylketonuria (PKU)

And remember to tell your doctor if you have any allergies - to montelukast or anything else. Montelukast sometimes contains lactose, a type of sugar, which can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Sometimes montelukast contains aspartame, which can cause problems if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

Is it OK for me to take montelukast if I'm already taking other medicines?

Make sure you tell your doctor if you're taking any other medicines to help control your asthma.

You should also mention things you're taking for other medical problems, including drugs, special foods or herbal remedies.

It's especially important to tell your doctor if you're taking:

phenobarbital (used to treat epilepsy)

phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy)

rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis (TB) and other types of infection)

What if I have any more questions?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people with asthma in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.