Singulair 5 Mg

Description

About Singulair 5 mg

Singulair 5 mg is a prescription chewable tablet containing 5 mg of montelukast, made by MSD Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd., used for long-term asthma control, prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and relief of allergic rhinitis in children aged 6 to 14 years. Singulair is the original montelukast brand developed by Merck, known as MSD outside the US and Canada; this pack is produced for the Indian market and is not the US-labeled product.

How does Singulair 5 mg work?

In a child with asthma, triggers such as exercise, smoke, colds and allergens prompt the release of cysteinyl leukotrienes, potent chemicals that narrow the bronchi and inflame their lining. The same chemicals keep the nose blocked in hay fever. Montelukast attaches to the leukotriene receptor and stops these chemicals from acting, so airways are less twitchy and the nose less congested. Protection builds over days of regular dosing, and the drug offers nothing during an attack that is already under way.

What is Singulair 5 mg used for?

• Persistent asthma: as a daily controller, on its own for mild disease or together with an inhaled corticosteroid.
• Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: a single tablet taken at least 2 hours before sport, for children who are not already on daily montelukast.
• Allergic rhinitis: seasonal or year-round, when other treatments have not helped or are not tolerated.

How to give Singulair 5 mg

Give one chewable tablet once a day. For asthma, the evening is the usual time; for allergies, pick a time that fits the family routine. The tablet must be chewed and may be taken with or without food. For pre-exercise use, do not give another dose within 24 hours, and a child already taking it daily should not have an extra tablet before games or gym class. If a dose is missed, simply give the next one at the normal time.

Choosing the right strength

Montelukast doses depend on age, not weight. Preschoolers aged 2 to 5 take a 4 mg chewable tablet such as Montair Chewable 4 mg. Children aged 6 to 14 take this 5 mg strength, which is also available as Cipla’s Montair Chewable 5 mg. From age 15, the adult film-coated Singulair 10 mg takes over. Never combine two montelukast brands.

Watch for behavior changes

Montelukast carries a US boxed warning about neuropsychiatric events. In school-age children, reported problems include trouble concentrating, memory lapses, stuttering, tics, obsessive thoughts, hallucinations, sleepwalking, anxiety, irritability, hostility and low mood, and rarely suicidal thinking. Ask teachers to mention any change too. Stop the tablets and contact the doctor if anything new appears.

What are the other side effects?

Children in clinical studies most often had sore throat, fever, flu-like illness, sinus or ear infections, nausea, indigestion and diarrhea. Seek urgent help for hives, swelling of the face or tongue, a blistering rash, or breathing that worsens. Call 911 in an asthma emergency.

Precautions

• Each 5 mg chewable tablet contains a small amount of phenylalanine from aspartame, which matters for children with PKU.
• Montelukast does not replace an inhaled steroid, and oral or inhaled steroids should not be reduced without the doctor’s advice.
• Children whose asthma worsens with aspirin should still avoid aspirin and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen.
• Phenobarbital and rifampin can reduce montelukast levels; tell the doctor about all medicines.

Pack sizes and storage

Singulair 5 mg comes in strips of 7 or 14 tablets, sold in packs of 28, 56 or 84, from $16. Store below 77°F (25°C) in the original packaging to protect from light and moisture.

Frequently asked questions

Is Singulair 5 mg the same as Montair Chewable 5 mg?

Both contain 5 mg of montelukast in a chewable tablet; they differ in maker and inactive ingredients.

Can it be used just before a sports match?

Yes, if prescribed for that purpose, but it must be given at least 2 hours ahead, and the reliever inhaler should still go in the kit bag.

Where can I see other asthma treatments?

Browse the asthma category.

This information is educational and does not replace a doctor’s assessment. Singulair 5 mg is a prescription medicine for children; give only the dose prescribed.