Montelukast (montelukast)
My medication guide
Fairview Pharmacy. Call 601-544-4871.
My prescribed doseYour pharmacist or doctor fills this in.
Important warning
- Important 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
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.
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.