Montair Chewable 4 Mg

Description

Same active ingredient (montelukast) as Singulair®, the US brand. Montair Chewable 4 mg is an Indian brand, made and licensed in India. Compare all Montelukast (Generic Singulair) options.

About Montair Chewable 4 mg

Montair Chewable 4 mg is a prescription chewable tablet containing 4 mg of montelukast, made by Cipla Limited, used to prevent asthma symptoms and to relieve allergic rhinitis (sneezing and a runny or blocked nose) in children aged 2 to 5 years. It is the lowest tablet strength in Cipla’s montelukast range, and because it is chewed, a preschooler does not need to swallow a whole tablet.

How does Montair Chewable 4 mg work?

When a young child with asthma or allergies meets a trigger such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, a cold virus or chilly air, cells lining the airways release chemicals called leukotrienes. These make the small breathing tubes tighten and swell, increase mucus, and keep the nose stuffy and dripping. Montelukast is a leukotriene receptor antagonist: it occupies the receptors that leukotrienes would switch on, so the reaction is damped down. The benefit builds with daily use. It does not open the airways quickly, so it is a controller medicine and never a reliever.

What is it used for?

• Persistent asthma in preschoolers: as a daily controller, on its own for mild symptoms or added to an inhaled corticosteroid when the doctor feels it is needed.
• Allergic rhinitis: seasonal hay fever or year-round indoor allergies. Since 2020, US labeling reserves montelukast for nasal allergies that have not responded to, or cannot be treated with, other medicines such as a steroid nasal spray or an antihistamine.

How to give Montair Chewable 4 mg

1. Give one tablet once a day. For asthma, an evening dose is standard; for allergies alone, your doctor may suggest another time.
2. Ask your child to chew it completely before swallowing. It may be given with or without food.
3. Carry on every day, including during symptom-free spells, unless the doctor changes the plan.
4. If a dose is forgotten, skip it and give the next one at the usual time; never give two tablets together.

Children younger than 2 are prescribed montelukast oral granules instead, and any child who cannot chew safely should not be given a tablet. When your child turns 6, the doctor will usually move them up to Montair Chewable 5 mg.

Mood and behavior: the boxed warning

Montelukast carries a boxed warning, the strongest kind of US safety alert, about serious neuropsychiatric effects. In toddlers and preschoolers these may look like nightmares, waking repeatedly at night, sleepwalking, new tantrums, aggression, restlessness or unusual fearfulness. Depression and suicidal thoughts have been reported, mostly in older patients. Such changes can begin during treatment or after it stops. If your child’s sleep, mood or behavior changes, stop the tablets and call the doctor promptly.

What are the other side effects?

The ones reported most often in this age group are fever, cough, colds, ear infections, tummy pain, diarrhea, headache and a runny nose. Get urgent medical help for a rash with swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or for wheezing that suddenly gets worse. Call 911 if your child is struggling to breathe or the reliever inhaler is not helping.

Before your child starts

• Chewable montelukast tablets usually contain aspartame, a source of phenylalanine; check the label and tell the doctor if your child has phenylketonuria (PKU).
• Mention liver problems and all other medicines, particularly phenobarbital or rifampin, which can lower montelukast levels.
• Do not cut down an inhaled or oral steroid simply because montelukast has been started.
• Keep a reliever such as the Asthalin Inhaler, used with a spacer and face mask, within easy reach.

Pack sizes and storage

Montair Chewable 4 mg comes in packs of 30, 60 or 90 chewable tablets, from $12. Store below 77°F (25°C) in the original strip, away from light and moisture. Flavored tablets can look like a treat, so keep them out of children’s sight and reach.

Frequently asked questions

How soon will I notice a difference?

Night-time coughing may settle within a few days, but it can take several weeks to judge the full effect.

Is there a combined allergy tablet for young children?

Montair LC Kid adds the antihistamine levocetirizine. Use it only if prescribed, and never alongside this tablet, because both contain montelukast.

Where can I see other options?

Browse the asthma category and the allergy range.

For general information only, not a substitute for your pediatrician’s advice. Montair Chewable 4 mg is a prescription medicine; give it exactly as your child’s doctor directs.