Information About Singulair

IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

How To Use
Singulair (Montelukast sodium) is a selective and orally active leukotriene receptor antagonist that inhibits the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor, and used for prevention and treatment of asthma, including the prevention of day and night time symptoms. Singulair is used for long-term prevention of asthma. It reduces the swelling and inflammation that tend to close up the airways, and relaxes the walls of the bronchial tubes, expanding the airways and permitting more air to pass through. Singulair is also used to relieve the stuffy, runny nose and sneezing caused by seasonal allergies. Singulair is used in conjunction with other asthma medications to reduce the number of acute asthma attacks when taken regularly. Singulair blocks the action of some of the leukotrienes, and this type of medicine can reduce the occurrence of acute asthma attacks when taken regularly. Singulair is also known as montelukast (pronounced monty-loo-cast), and it comes as tablets for adults or children over 6 years of age. Singulair is not a corticosteroid. It is important to know that Singulair does not work like a blue (reliever) inhaler. Therefore, during an asthma attack a blue inhaler (e.g. Ventolin or Bricanyl) is still used. To take a Singulair tablet during an asthma attack will not work fast enough. It is also important that the doctor's directions are followed when starting Singulair - other asthma medicines should not be stopped without a doctor's permission. Used with the brown preventer inhalers (also known as corticosteroids, e.g. Becotide, Flixotide, Pulmicort), Singulair can usually give people with asthma more control over their asthma than the brown preventer inhalers alone. The preventer inhalers are usually continued to be used while using Singulair, but sometimes the doctor may reduce the dose of the preventer inhalers depending on the patient's progress. Occasionally the doctor may stop the preventer inhalers completely, but this must not be done without the doctor's advice, because for many people the preventer inhalers will be very important in keeping them well. Singulair does not work like prednisone or Betnesol (betamethasone) tablets (called corticosteroids or steroids), and therefore cannot be a substitute for these tablets. If both Singulair and steroid tablets are prescribed, both should be taken. It is important to follow the doctor's directions for the steroid tablets and not stop them without checking with the doctor. Singulair can improve asthma within one day, and, if prescribed, should be taken every day, both during times when asthma is well-controlled and times when asthma is worsening.

Directions
Follow the directions for using Singulair provided by your doctor. Because Singulair is used for the prevention and treatment of asthma, it must be taken regularly for maximum effect. Take a Singulair tablet once daily, whether or not you have any symptoms. The tablet can be taken with or without food. If you have asthma, or asthma plus allergies, take Singulair in the evening. If you have only allergies, you can take Singulair at any time. Do not stop taking other asthma medications when using Singulair unless your doctor advises you to. This is especially important with steroid tablets (e.g. prednisone) and brown preventer inhalers (e.g. Becotide, Flixotide, Pulmicort, Respocort). The dose of Singulair is only taken once a day, usually at bedtime - do not take more than the doctor recommends. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Side Effects
In clinical trials on asthma patients, Singulair has been compared with placebo, and only headache and stomach pain were found to be more common from Singulair tablets than placebo. Hypersensitivity or allergy has been reported for taking Singulair also, including a skin allergy, a red or itchy skin, or anaphylaxis or angioedema, swelling of the face and throat.

Precautions
Singulair is not to be used to relieve an acute asthma attack, nor to be abruptly substituted for preventer inhalers or steroid tablets. Consult your doctor for taking Singulair if you are pregnant, breast feeding, or for children under 6 years of age.

Drug Interactions
Singulair may be used with other medicines routinely used in the prevention and treatment of asthma. It is not known if Singulair interacts with alcohol. Therefore, it may be wise not to drink alcohol while taking Singulair, although this is always the best to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

NOTES: Do not share this Lipitor with others.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take it if it is near the time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

STORAGE: Store this medication at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) away from heat and light. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.