Get Informed: Singulair
Active Ingredient(s)
Montelukast
What does it do?
This product is primarily used for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. It works by blocking leukotrienes - important chemicals that are believed to trigger airway constriction and inflammation.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 11:24 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:52 PM
Other Names
- Singulair
- Montelukast
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 20 Feb 1998
- Est US Patients*
- 6,660,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Singulair or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Singulair
- Updated Prescribing Information Available
- Updated Safety Information from FDA Safety Review
- Update on FDA Safety Review
Singulair Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Singulair interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Singulair used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 39,000 patients that use Singulair (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma | 65% | 
|
| Allergies | 59% |
|
| COPD | 11% |
|
| Sinus Problems | 4% |
|
| Nasal Congestion | 2% |
|
| Other | 4% |
|
How well does Singulair work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 39,000 users taking Singulair (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 88%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Singulair outweigh the bad things.
- 8%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Singulair.
Common Side Effects of Singulair
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 39,000 users taking Singulair (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
14% of patients experience side-effects on Singulair
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Singulair
Most Common Side Effects...
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Constipation, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Dry Mouth, Dryness, Fatigue, Headache, High Blood Pressure, Increased Infections, Insomnia, Loss of Appetite, Muscle Spasms, Nasal Congestions, Nose Bleeds, Restlessness, Sometimes Eye Dryness and Ocassional LIT, Vaginal Discharge
Global Patient Feedback for Singulair (Montelukast) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
horrible horrible WEIGHT GAIN!!!! i thought it was my advair but it was the singulair! i've gained 50 lbs in ONE YEAR. i've also experienced the other side effects discussed here, lack of energy. i mean extreme lack of energy, irritability... etc.
30 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-20 14:00:36
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Singular for several years and am surprised to read some of the terrible reactions that people have had. It has worked fabulously for me! I do have insomnia (did before taking medication) so I take it in the morning. If I stop taking Singular my allergies and asthma come back with a vengeance! I love Singular, couldn't live (well) without it!
30 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-22 09:31:06
Question/Comment:
My doctor (PCP) gave me many months supplies of Singulair 10mg samples and 2-written Rx's of 6-refills each, instructing me to drink 1-tablet per day before bedtime. This is the 1st time ever taking Singulair for Asthma & Allergies (rhinitis), to suppress the excess production of mucus which runs down the throat which later can enter the chest - lungs. I started taking this Medication 03/2009 which did help suppress (minimize) the production of mucus clearing the mucus streaming down my throat which caused cough and scratchie throat, but at a high price. Withing the same week I initiated the Singulair I began to experience, uncontrolled anxiety, feelings of loss-of-control, insomnia, depression, no desire - motivation - energy to do anything, constant thoughts of wanting to die, and feeling highly emotinal, it even reopened painful traumatic events from my past which had already been resolved and put to rest. As I continued taking Singulair daily the symptoms worsened becoming more obvious since it was the only new medication I was taking & nothing had happened in my life to trigger such unexpected series of reactions. From my observation and personal experience Singulair (Montelukast Sodium) not only helps suppress the mucus, but it also supresses the "Endorphins" (which our brain-body produce) completely causing a chemical imbalance which causes neurological problems. I stopped taking the Singulair 1-week ago & I'm going through severe withdrawals and my Endorphins are still not completely back to normal (~50% better) but I have improved partly starting to feel better each day that passes as the withdrawals lessened and my body begins to detoxify from this unnatural chemical, and begins to produce it's natural endorphins which help us feel motivated, happy and balanced chemically. My adivice to anyone taking this medication is to monitor any possible changes in their behavior because this can sneak through gradually & easily be unnoticed, as it happened with me. Good thing that there are medications that are safe, including alternative healing methods such as: meditation in the sun - hypnosis - accupressure - & hermal remedies.
34 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-12 17:37:02
Question/Comment:
I have been taking singulair for several years now, and my blood pressure is great, almost borderline low, (even considering I'm overweight) My initial reaction to the drug was more extreme insomnia, so I take the drug in the a.m. instead of in the evening, as I have already been suffering from insomnia for over 30 years. I am a fan of taking singulair, it may not be for everyone, however it is definately for me, my asthma and allergies are more under control since taking this drug than they have EVER been. And I was diagnosed at the young age of 4 and am currently 47. Thanks for letting me voice my personal opinion.
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-07 22:14:43
Answer/Reply:
I was put on singular but it made me so sleepy I couldn't wake up and I took it at night,
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-29 02:43:46
Question/Comment:
Both my daughter and I take singular and have had no reaction to the medication. While I do have high blood pressure, this is something that I had before I started taking Singular. My daughter takes Singular because her allergies are so bad that they cause her to throw up (this is due to drainage into her stomach). When she started to take Singular it stop this problem immediately. While I think that no medicine is the best, if possible, I think that Singular is the best medicine for our situation.
40 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-04 11:23:02
Answer/Reply:
I recently recieved a warning about singulair from Johns Hopkins newsletter and medications.com. The FDA is thinking about pulling it so be careful. I had insomnia, irritability, dry mouth and other side effects. Quit it 2mos ago and I feel fine now. I live in the allergy capitol of the US(Nashville) and have had no allergy problems since. The problem is Blood Pressure and other dangerous side effects that were reported in a study they did on the drug.
Two great newsletters to subscribe to: Medications.com and Johns Hopkins. The Mayo Clinic agreed in warnings so just to be completely informed, ck em out. Just want to help. Even drugs that are approved by FDA can have problems.The latest warning: Acetamenophin(Tylenol and RX pain meds) Hurts your liver and heart so try Alleve or alternative.Scary but theyre talking about taking OTC drugs off the shelves w/ that ingredient!
54 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-17 08:01:27
Answer/Reply:
I have been taken singular for my allergies and i have on reaction to the medication. It works great.
39 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-21 13:04:48
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
46
Patient Comments about
Singulair