Generic Singulair

Singulair

Generic name: Montelukast

Montelukast is available in the form of tablets or chewable tablets

What is the general description of montelukast or chewable tablets?

MONTELUKAST (Singulair®) can assist to lessen asthma symptoms, such as (coughing, wheezing, hard breathing, or chest pain) as well as control your asthma. Please note that the medicine is not meant for providing instant relief thus cannot be used to treat a rapid asthma attack. The medicine has effects only in case when taken on a regular basis to lessen inflammation and asthma attacks prevention. Montelukast shows effectiveness both in adults and children. Montelukast can also be helpful for reducing the problems caused by seasonal allergies, like hay fever.

What should I inform my health care provider of before start taking this medicine?

There are several side effects which you should immediately inform your doctor of:

• Rapid asthma attack
• are on glucocorticoid therapy
• liver illness, such as hepatitis
• phenylketonuria
• an extraordinary or allergic reaction to montelukast, other medicines, as well as foods, preservatives
• pregnant or planning to become pregnant
• breast-feeding mothers

What are the best intake instructions for this medicine?

Please make sure to take montelukast by mouth. Taking of the medicine can be with food simultaneously. Take montelukast strictly on daily basis at definitely the same time, even the days when asthma or allergy symptoms are not observed.

Do not take the medicine at more doses than prescribed. Take all the quantity of your prescribed medicine even if you go to improvement. The prescribed doses should not be skipped. The instructions on the prescription label should be followed carefully.

Chewable tablets: While chewable tablets intake, make sure to chew them well before you swallow the tablet with water. You can also take your tablets with food simultaneously. Please make sure to take the medicine every day at roughly the same time, this especially refers to the days asthma or allergy symptoms are not observed. Please make sure to follow instructions on the prescription label should be followed carefully. Do not take the medicine at more doses than prescribed. Take all the quantity of your prescribed medicine even if you go to improvement. The prescribed doses should not be skipped.

Montelukast chewable tablets are generally being prescribed for use in children 2 years of age or older.

What if I find I have missed a dose?

Should you miss a dose of this medicine please take it asap. If you find you have missed the previous dosage when it is almost time for your next dose, you should better skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Taking double or extra doses at once is not recommended. If more than one dose is missed, please contact your attending medical doctor or health care provider.

What drug components may interact with montelukast?

• carbamazepine
• cerivastatin
• paclitaxel
• phenobarbital
• diphenylhydantoin sodium
• repaglinide
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rosiglitazone
• troglitazone

Please inform your health care provider of the complete a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you take currently. Also inform them of your smoking, alcohol, and using illegal drugs. These factors may have impact on your medicine effectiveness. These may exactly affect the way your medicine influences. Please make sure to check with your health care provider stopping or starting any of the prescribed medicines.

What side effects may be noticed from using this medicine?

What side effects can be observed from taking this medicine?

Rare or extraordinary:

• a feeling of pins and needlessness of arms and legs
• dark brown as well as yellow urine
• diarrhea
• easy bleeding
• edema or tumor of the legs or ankles
• fatigue or sickness
• fever
• flu-like illness
• muscle aches or spasms
• convulsion
• skin rash and irritation
• severe stomach pain
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue,
• hard breathing or swallowing
• nausea
• wheezing or prolonged coughing
• yellowing of the eyes /skin

There are side effects that generally do not need to be under medical control thus informing your health care provider if the symptoms continue:

• cough
• hard sleeping
• giddiness
• drowsiness
• headache
• cardialgia
• hoarseness or sore throat
• stomach disorders
• muscle aches or spasms
• vomiting
• wet nose
• unusual dreams

What should I be attentive to while starting to take montelukast?

Montelukast can be used to prevent asthma attacks help; please note that the medicine is not used as a "quick-relief" medicine, this will not be effective in this case. Thus, please make sure to necessarily have your "quick-relief" medicine with you for the treatment of a rapid asthma attack. Please inform your health care provider on the problems you face and situations you have a rapid asthma attack.

Please inform your health care provider if your symptoms do not show improvement within a few days. If you are taking this medicine for a long time, make sure to consult your health care provider for regular checks.

The instructions on the prescription label should be followed carefully.

This medicine has best effects when taken simultaneously with the meal. It should be taken at defined intervals. Do not take the medicine at more doses than prescribed. Take all the quantity of your prescribed medicine even if you go to improvement. The prescribed doses should not be skipped.

The medicine will have its best effect when being taken at a regular basis even in case you do not have asthma symptoms. Please not that prescribed doses should not be skipped. Consult your doctor on dose change or stopping the medicine.

What are the best maintenance instructions for this medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

The best conditions to keep the medicine at are to store them room temperature between 15.30 degrees C (59.86 degrees F); do not freeze. Do not heat, avoid sunlight.The container where the medicine is stored should be tightly closed. It should be also strictly protected from moisture. Any unused medicine the expiration date have passed should be thrown away.

What is meant by the shelf life of drugs?

The shelf life for the medicine is 2 years from the date of producing and would vary for different batches; this factor is dependant on the date of production.