The medications used in asthma relax the smooth muscles in the airway, interfere with the substances released by the mast cells and/or fight inflammation. Some prevent asthma attacks, while others are used to relieve the symptoms. Medications are also used to treat the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma and allergic rhinitis. Singulair is one medication used in these disorders.
Singulair
Singular is the brand name for montelukast, a medication used to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, control asthma and prevent the constriction of the airways that happens in some as a result of exercise, according to Dr. Peter Barnes in "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics." If you have allergic rhinitis, you have inflammation in your nose because you inhaled something that you are allergic to. If you have asthma, you have inflammation in your airway.
Singulair, Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis
During an asthma attack, the airways get smaller because the mast cells release several substances, including one called cysteinyl-leukotriene. The release of other substances by the mast cells leads to inflammation. In allergic rhinitis, cysteinyl-leukotrienes are released as well. Singulair relieves the symptoms because it interferes with the release of cysteinyl-leukotrienes, explains Dr. Homer Boushey, chief of the Asthma Clinical Research Center, in "Basic & Clinical Pharmacology." Possible side effects do occur when taking Singulair, but it does not raise the triglyceride level.
Singulair and Churg-Strauss Syndrome
Singulair may be associated with a disorder called Churg-Strauss syndrome. This is a rare disorder where inflammation occurs in the small blood vessels, along with numbness and pain in the feet and hands, a rash, an increase in the number of eosinophil blood cells, and inflammation in the sinuses and lungs. In the October 2008 issue of "Thorax," Dr. N. Nathani, wrote about a review of medical journals to determine what was written about medications such as Singulair causing Churg-Strauss syndrome. The results of the review showed that 62 people developed this condition after taking montelukast.
Additional Side Effects
Besides Churg-Strauss syndrome, other potential side effects have been reported, but no reports of an increase in triglycerides have occurred. From one to two percent of people who take Singulair reported the development of nosebleeds, cough, upset stomach, rash, headaches, dizziness, nasal congestion, fatigue, toothaches, fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea and sinus congestion, according to "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." Less than two percent have had an increase in liver enzymes; physicians do monitor this lab value since rare cases of liver abnormalities have been reported.
References
- "Basic & Clinical Pharmacology"; Bertram Katzung, M.D., Ph.D., et al.; 2009
- "Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics"; Laurence Brunton, Ph.D.; 2011
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Montelukast
- "The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics"; Gopa Green, M.D., et al.; 2004
- "Thorax"; Churg--Strauss Syndrome & Leukotriene Antagonist Use; N. Nathani et al.; 2008
