Montelukast: What It Does, How to Take It, and What to Watch For

If you’ve been prescribed a white tablet called montelukast (often sold as Singulair), you’re probably dealing with asthma or seasonal allergies. It’s not a rescue inhaler – it works behind the scenes to keep your airways calm.

How Montelukast Works

Montelukast blocks leukotrienes, which are chemicals your body releases during an allergic reaction. Those chemicals cause swelling, mucus, and tightening of airway muscles. By stopping them from binding to receptors, the drug helps keep breathing easy and reduces sneezing or a runny nose.

Practical Tips for Using Montelukast

Take it every day. Even if you feel fine, missing a dose can let leukotrienes build up again. Most doctors recommend one tablet in the evening; chewable tablets are available for kids as young as six months.

Swallow or chew correctly. The regular tablet should be swallowed whole with water. Chewable forms can be chewed or dissolved on the tongue – just follow the label.

Don’t worry about food. You can take montelukast with or without meals, which makes it easy to fit into a busy schedule.

Watch for side effects. Mild issues like headache, stomach pain, or tiredness are common and usually fade. If you notice mood swings, anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self‑harm, call your doctor right away – those reactions are rare but serious.

Store it right. Keep the bottle tightly closed at room temperature, away from moisture and heat. Childproof caps help keep little hands safe.

Know drug interactions. Montelukast generally plays well with other meds, but tell your pharmacist if you’re on phenobarbital or rifampin, as they can lower its effectiveness.

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it’s almost time for the next one. In that case, skip the missed tablet and continue with your regular schedule – don’t double up.

Many people see better asthma control within a week, but full benefits can take a few weeks. Keep track of how often you need rescue inhalers; fewer puffs usually mean montelukast is doing its job.

Finally, keep an open line with your healthcare provider. If symptoms aren’t improving or side effects bother you, they may adjust the dose or suggest a different treatment.