Montelukast: its role in asthma and allergies, and the mood warning
This guide is here to teach you. It is not medical advice, and it does not replace your doctor or pharmacist. Always do what your doctor tells you, and ask a pharmacist before you change how you take any medicine.
Print or save this guideImportant mood warning: Serious mental-health changes, including suicidal thoughts or actions, have been reported. Stop montelukast and contact your clinician immediately for new mood, behavior or sleep changes. These can occur with or without a prior mental-health condition and sometimes after treatment stops. Immediate danger requires emergency help. Montelukast boxed warning
Quick answers
Will it stop an asthma attack?
No. Montelukast helps prevent symptoms; it does not replace your prescribed rescue treatment during an attack.
Is it a first choice for ordinary nasal allergies?
Because of its mental-health risks, it is reserved for allergic rhinitis when other treatments do not work well enough or cannot be tolerated.
What if I miss a dose?
Skip it and take the next scheduled dose. Do not take an extra dose or more than one dose in 24 hours.
Sources: montelukast label; MedlinePlus.
When should I take it?
Timing depends on the reason it was prescribed. Asthma treatment is usually taken in the evening; exercise-related instructions differ. If you already take it daily, do not add a dose before exercise. Follow your own label. MedlinePlus
Can I stop my inhalers?
Do not change other asthma medicines just because montelukast was added. Keep your rescue medicine available and follow your asthma action plan. Increasing symptoms or more frequent attacks need a call to your clinician. Severe breathing difficulty needs emergency care. MedlinePlus
What changes should my family watch for?
Examples include nightmares, unusual irritability, agitation, confusion or depression. Tell a caregiver about the warning. Contact the prescriber rather than assuming the symptoms will pass; further monitoring may be needed even after stopping. Montelukast label, neuropsychiatric warning
What about chewables or granules?
Use the exact product instructions. Granules have specific mixing and use-time limits. Some chewables contain phenylalanine, which matters for people with PKU. Ask your pharmacist to explain the product before giving it to a child. MedlinePlus
Get help with your plan
Ask a Fairview pharmacist about routine questions. For urgent breathing or mental-health symptoms, seek direct medical help. Prescription services are through the pharmacy; this page is general education.