Montelukast sodium is a prescription drug approved for preventing symptoms of certain respiratory conditions. Manufactured by Merck and Co., it is available as the brand Singulair. Montelukast comes in tablets, chewable tablets and oral granules. If you take Singulair for asthma, you'll still need to carry an inhaler, because montelukast does not treat symptoms of an asthma attack.
Effects on Asthma
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved montelukast sodium to help control symptoms of asthma in adults and children 12 months and older, according to the Singulair official website. Asthma is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and swelling in the inside walls of the airways. The inflamed airways then may react strongly to irritants or allergens and become narrow, reducing air flow. People with asthma have symptoms of wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and difficulty breathing.
Effects on Nasal Allergies
Montelukast is also approved for preventing symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies in adults and children, according to the official website. It is approved for controlling symptoms of outdoor allergies in children 2 years and older, and for indoor allergies in children 6 months and older. Symptoms of these types of allergies can include runny nose, nasal congestion and sneezing, and the condition is technically known as allergic rhinitis.
Effects on Skin Reactions
Doctors are allowed to prescribe legal medications for unapproved uses, or so-called off-label uses. They sometimes prescribe monteluksat sodium for controlling symptoms of certain skin disorders that are caused by allergens and other irritants. These conditions include atopic dermatitis, known as eczema, and chronic urticaria, or hives, according to Drugs.com.
Effects in the Airways
Montelukast sodium is classified as a leukotriene modifier, explains eMedTV. Leukotrienes are chemicals that contribute to inflammation in asthma and allergies and cause symptoms, and leukotriene modifiers work by blocking leukotriene receptors. Specifically, montelukast sodium binds to the cysteinyl leukotriene, or CysLT1, receptors in the upper and lower airways, as noted by Drugs.com. This prevents leukotriene-related effects of asthma and nasal allergies.
Physical Side Effects
Adults tend to have different side effects than children when taking montelukast sodium, according to eMedTV. By far, the most common side effect associated with montelukast sodium in adults is headaches. Other side effects occurring in about 1 to 5 percent of adults taking this medication during pre-approval clinical trials with montelukast, as described by eMedTV, included flu, fever, gastrointestinal infections, abdominal pain, coughing, indigestion, heartburn, fatigue, dizziness, weakness, accidental injury, tooth pain, nasal congestion and rash. Side effects occurring in children during pre-approval clinical trials included sore throat, laryngitis, flu, fever, sinus or ear infection, tooth infection, abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn, headaches, coughing and eczema.
Behavioral and Psychological Effects
Some people experience behavior and mood-related changes while taking montelukast sodium, according to the Singulair website. These may include agitation, anxiety, depression, anger, irritability, aggression, insomnia, bad dreams, sleepwalking, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts and actions.
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