What you need to know about Singulair (Montelukast), a medicine for asthma and allergies

Do you also get asthma often? Or do you sneeze, runny nose, and body aches every time you touch dust or a cold? In such situations, a doctor may have prescribed a medicine called Singulair for you. You may already be using it. So, today we will talk simply and politely about this medicine called Singulair, or Montelukast , its pros and cons, how to use it, and especially the things to pay attention to.

What is this Singulair?

Simply put, Singulair is the brand name for the drug Montelukast. It is a prescription medication. It is mainly used to control asthma and reduce allergy symptoms in children over one year of age and adults. It is available in tablet form, as well as in granules that can be dissolved in water for children and adults who have difficulty swallowing tablets.

How does Singulair work?

To understand this, let's take a look at what happens inside our bodies when we have asthma or an allergy. Imagine, when you are allergic to something, our immune system produces chemicals called 'leukotrienes'. These 'leukotrienes' are the main enemies. These cause swelling and narrowing (bronchoconstriction) in our airways, that is, the thin tubes (bronchioles) that carry air to the lungs. That is why the chest is tight, we hear a 'whooping' sound when we breathe, and it is difficult to breathe. This is also why the nose is blocked in allergies. So what Singulair does is block the action of those 'leukotrienes'. In other words, this medicine is a 'leukotriene modifier'. When you control the 'leukotrienes' in this way, the swelling and narrowing of the airways decreases, and breathing becomes easier.

What are the side effects of this medicine?

Like any medication, Singulair can cause both minor and serious side effects. Some of these will go away as the body gets used to the medication. But there are some things we need to be very careful about.

Special warning about the impact on mental health!

This is the most important thing to pay attention to when talking about Singulair. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the United States has issued a special warning about this drug. The reason is that some people who use this drug have reported serious mental health problems. In addition to a serious condition like this, if you experience any of the following mental or behavioral changes, notify your doctor immediately.

• Constant restlessness, agitation
• Aggressive behavior, frequent anger
• Difficulty concentrating
• Scary or very vivid dreams
• Depression or severe anxiety
• Memory problems
• Sleepwalking
• Insomnia or sleep problems
• Uncontrollable muscle activity in the body

It is essential that parents be very vigilant about these behavioral changes, especially when giving this medication to children.

Who should not use Singulair?

This medicine is not suitable for everyone. If you have any of the following conditions, you should tell your doctor before using Singulair.

• If you have or have had liver disease.
• If you have allergies to any other medicine (especially aspirin), food, or preservatives.
• If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• If you have a rare genetic disease called Phenylketonuria (PKU).
• If you have had depression or other mental health conditions in the past.

Interactions with other medications

Singulair can interact with other medications and vitamins you are taking. Therefore, tell your doctor about all medications you are taking. Also, avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking Singulair.

How do I stop taking the medicine?

This is also very important. Some people may experience withdrawal symptoms such as fever, body aches, anxiety, and insomnia when they suddenly stop taking this medication. Singulair, Montelukast, asthma, allergies, respiratory diseases, side effects, mental health