Do you have asthma or any allergies? If so, your doctor may have prescribed you a pill called Montelukast. Maybe you are using it, or someone in your family is using it. So today, let's talk simply and clearly about this medicine that many people use, but do not know much about.
What is Montelukast?
Simply put, Montelukast is a medication that helps control, prevent, and treat your asthma and allergy symptoms. It works by reducing inflammation in our airways, or breathing passages, and making it easier to breathe. You'll often find it under the brand name Singulair.
But this is very important: You cannot use this medicine to treat a sudden asthma attack. It is only used to prevent symptoms and provide long-term control.
Things to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before your doctor prescribes Montelukast, he or she will need to know your complete medical history. Therefore, if you have any of these conditions, it is important to tell your doctor before starting the medication.
- If you have liver disease.
- If you have an allergic reaction to Montelukast or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother.
Based on this information, your doctor will be able to decide whether this medication is right for you or not.
How should I use this medicine?
For a medicine to work properly, it is very important to use it correctly.
- Take this pill with a glass of water.
- Try to take your medicine at the same time every day . Your doctor will tell you whether to take it at night or in the morning. Do that.
- This can be taken before or after meals, but if you experience stomach upset, it is best to take it with food.
- Continue taking the medication even if your symptoms disappear , until your doctor tells you to stop.
- There are special precautions when giving this medicine to children. Therefore, only give the prescribed dosage as directed by your doctor.
- This medicine is for you only. Never share your medicine with others.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken more than the prescribed dose, don't panic. But don't take it lightly either. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital. Or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, skip the missed dose. Take the next dose at the next scheduled time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
Some medications you take may interact with Montelukast. Therefore, tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and herbal products you take. Especially if you are taking any of the following medications:
| Drug category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Medications for seizures | Phenytoin, Phenobarbital, Carbamazepine |
| Certain antibiotics | Rifabutin, Rifampin |
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
It's a good idea to be a little careful about your body when taking Montelukast.
Special attention to mental health!
This is the most important and important thing to remember when talking about Montelukast. Some people taking this medication may experience mental and behavioral changes. Therefore, you or your family should be on the lookout for these symptoms.
- Feeling anxious and restless.
- Agitation, irritability.
- New or worsening depression or anxiety.
- Insomnia, bad or strange dreams (vivid dreams or nightmares).
- Feelings of aggression or hostility.
- Having thoughts of suicide or harming yourself.
If you experience any of these changes in your thinking or behavior, especially suicidal thoughts , don't ignore them. They could be a side effect of the medication. Tell your doctor right away.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, Montelukast can cause side effects. Some of these are serious, while others are common.
| Side Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Side effects that should be reported to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Mental and behavioral changes | As described above, restlessness, depression, suicidal thoughts. |
| Flu-like symptoms | Fever, body aches, cough, headache, fatigue. |
| Pain or numbness in the limbs | Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| General characteristics | Headache, stomach ache, diarrhea, sore throat, cough, runny nose. |
How should I store and dispose of the medicine?
To maintain the quality of medicines, it is important to store them correctly.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Store at room temperature (between 15°C - 30°C), away from light and moisture. Therefore, it is not recommended to keep it in the bathroom.
- Keep the cap of the medicine bottle tightly closed.
- Do not use expired medicine.
When disposing of expired or unwanted medications, it is important to do so in an environmentally friendly way. Check the label to see if it says not to flush them down the toilet. If you are unsure, ask your doctor. The safest way is to take the pills out of the container, mix them with something like used tea leaves or coffee grounds, put them in a sealed bag, and put them in the trash.
Take-Home Message
- Montelukast is a medicine used to prevent asthma and allergy symptoms. It is not useful for sudden asthma attacks.
- If you have asthma, always keep your rescue inhaler with you .
- Most importantly: If you or someone in your family experiences any changes in their mood or behavior (especially depression, suicidal thoughts) while taking this medicine, tell your doctor right away .
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking.
- Even if your symptoms disappear, continue to take the medication as prescribed until your doctor tells you to.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න