Generic Name: Montelukast for Asthma (montelukast)
Montelukast for Asthma Reviews
Singulair (montelukast) "Be careful! After years of being misdiagnosed, I was given Singulair. Within 4 weeks, I no longer needed my nebulizer or rescue inhalers. I gradually became more tired and extremely agitated. I began hearing voices in my own home, and I live alone. It got worse, not better. One night, I was convinced someone was in my home. Every light in the house was on. I still kept seeing someone! Coming from a military background and secure in owning firearms, I was searching my home with a gun. I was looking for an intruder who was NOT there! That was my final straw. I threw my Singulair in the garbage. I’m still agitated and frustrated. I am going to try over-the-counter medication deemed safe. I’m not sure how long the agitation and tiredness will last. I pray this will help someone. Please be careful on this medicine. For me, it’s not worth it. In 55 years, I’ve never seen anyone or heard voices in my home until Singulair. (5 weeks total taking it)"
"Great for asthma and allergies. BUT do not take this if you're trying to lose weight. It does something to you and makes it completely impossible to lose any weight no matter what you do. Fasting 20 hours a day...OMAD, 800kcals a day, 1200kcals a day, eating to TDEE recommendations, keto, low carb, literal starvation...tried it all and nothing worked over the period of a couple of years. Only when I researched 'singulair weight loss' did I find other people with the same issue. Came off Singulair and the weight flew off. Made me feel like I was losing my mind."
Singulair (montelukast) "My asthma came back strong at about age 46. I tried everything. I couldn't exist without an inhaler nearby. Couldn't sleep at night for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time. Woke up constantly always coughing. Additionally, I always had sinus infections. This drug has been a life-changer for me. It is a miracle. I haven't experienced any noticeable negative side effects. The first couple of days, I had some dizzy spells, but they subsided. I can't say enough good things about how this has helped me. I went to a couple of pulmonologists, several emergency rooms, and urgent cares, along with my primary. No one ever recommended this. Finally, I found a RA or PA, I don't know, but she prescribed this for me and I am forever grateful."
Singulair (montelukast) "While on this medication, my asthma and allergies were almost non-existent. However, I also developed severe depression that almost took my life, anxiety, became easily agitated, and had pain in my mouth and back. Since I stopped, I feel happier, more patient, less sore, but my allergies have come back. If it weren't for the side effects, I would have kept taking it."
"I tried this drug a few times at the recommended 10 mg and had panic attacks. My pharmacist recommended that I try the children's dose of 5mg and it's been a game-changer! I've had respiratory issues my whole life - dry cough, occasional bronchitis, wheezing, allergic rhinitis, etc. This clears up about 90% of my issues. If you're having psychiatric side effects from it, but you really need it to function, try halving your dose before you give it up entirely."
Singulair (montelukast) "1.5 months on Singulair and so far very happy. I have not had asthma flare-up since beginning Singulair. This is a big deal for me after 1 year of regular flare-ups. I rarely need to use my Ventolin, still on Breo daily. I can breathe through my nose which is very new for me :) The earlier reviews scared me, but so far no issues with anxiety. I did have some weird dreams at first, but that has lessened. I'm very glad for the progress so far."
"My daughter had her life ruined by this drug! Had I known I wouldn’t have given it to her! It was good for the asthma at night at first. Then she started having nightmares, odd behavior, aggressive & hyper. The asthma nurse said it was a phase & put the dose up. The next day she was suffering with awful headaches and started to hallucinate...wouldn’t go out in public & ran into oncoming traffic because her brain told her to. Had panic attacks, admitted to hospital for the headaches. I mentioned the drug, they ignored it, took her to doctor who prescribed it to her and he said the drug had crossed the brain barrier causing inflammation and prescribed antibiotics...discontinued it...improvement but my girl will never be the same again...she’s now diagnosed with severe anxiety, OCD & SPD...under CAMHS, mental health, had school counseling...and still to this day no help with withdrawal didn’t go into any detail, no doctor, nurse, or pharmacy will acknowledge that this drug has done this to my girl."
"Went on montelukast for mild asthma. It did seem to help me breathe easier, certainly less wheezing. Experienced very intense, vivid dreams - definitely attribute those to this medication because I guess it crosses the blood-brain barrier. Mood was about the same. The reason I stopped taking this was I noticed a weight change (increase) that began around the same time I started the medication. I stopped gaining weight and began losing the 15 lbs I packed on almost immediately after stopping this medication."
Singulair (montelukast) "After I got asthma three months ago, I personally thought it was going to be the end of me. My breathing was difficult and was making me depressed. I started Singulair 2 months ago. It took about 6 weeks for the medicine to fully work for me, but now I feel wonderful. I feel 95 percent like before I got ill. No side effects for me. I totally recommend!"
Singulair (montelukast) "I started with Singulair a few months ago. Before taking it, I would be awakened with wheezing, nasal congestion, and just feeling like I could not get enough air. It has been a wonder drug, immediately all the asthma symptoms at night were relieved and stopped the early morning coughing. I occasionally have short-term wheezing, but nothing like previously, and so far no side effects."
Singulair (montelukast) "I read these reviews a year ago and was completely terrified to take this medicine. I let my asthma go so long out of fear that I was going to have a bad reaction. Now I need medicine just to breathe at night. I rated it an 8 because I've only taken 1 dose, but that was the first night I fell asleep being able to breathe fully in a long time. Today is the first day I only needed my rescue inhaler one time (so far). I'm hoping as I continue to take it, it'll get even better. Also, no side effects whatsoever. Please try to take medicine for yourself and see how you feel before you put things off. I'm loving Singulair and the way I can breathe!"
"Yes, the anxiety and depression are absolute side effects of montelukast. The weight gain and the anger too. I think if you are a younger person at all or a woman who already gets mood swings or related side effects from birth control, stay away from montelukast!"
"I have been on Singulair for a couple of weeks after years of being on a steroid inhaler for exercise-induced asthma. It has been working great, but I'm gaining weight like crazy. So unfortunate, but I will go back to my inhaler."
"I have noticed a lot of bloating and hot flashes on montelukast. I do feel like it helps with the cough I get from allergies and shortness of breath. On the other hand, I have been gaining unexplained weight and extremely tired!"
Singulair (montelukast) "Thank God for Singulair. I got my life back. My asthma was so bad, I was afraid to go anywhere without my nebulizer. Now my asthma is almost non-existent. I have no side effects and feel great. I just wish I would have had this medicine many years earlier, it would have saved many trips to the emergency room and much suffering and panic."
Singulair (montelukast) "I was on Singulair for a couple of years, and I have depression with tremors/muscle spasms. Since stopping the meds, the pain in my back next to my lungs has returned but depression is getting better. Tremors are still happening after 2 weeks of not being on this."
Singulair (montelukast) "Started Singulair approximately 1 week ago. I will say it's an asthma miracle, but the side effects are unreal. I had extreme irritability (out of character for me), severe fatigue when normally active, mood changes, depression, anxiety. I wish doctors would really explain this to new users. Thanks to all of you who reviewed this medicine and gave me insight on what was going on, that's the reason for my post too."
"I’ve had mild asthma since childhood. Despite this, I smoked for 25+ years and quit on Aug 11th, 2010. I’m 53, and I’ve tried nearly every nebulizer treatment, daily maintenance, and long-term bronchodilator. Singulair/Montelukast was prescribed to me for no reason other than one day my pulmonologist said, ‘it couldn’t hurt’. Boy, was he wrong! By the time I realized it was likely causing a bad side effect, I was popping Ativan like candy. I had an overwhelming sense of dread! Like fear, sadness, anxiety, and terror all rolled up into one. I write this review because I want everyone to realize the possibility. I have been off of the drug for nearly a month now, and I’m back to normal! In my opinion, if you want something to truly control your asthma, just use Symbicort! It works better than anything I’ve tried in my lifetime."
"I’ve been on Singulair for 5 years now. Prescribed to treat mild asthma and allergic rhinitis (post-nasal drip). Paired with a daily dose of Zyrtec, I don’t find it helps my chronic post-nasal drip as much as I expected it to (it does some), but it definitely cleared up the mild wheezing I’d suffer from every night. As for side effects, I don’t believe I have ever suffered from any. I also have mental health issues like general anxiety disorder and OCD (both diagnosed prior to taking this), and neither felt exacerbated."
"Worked brilliantly to improve my asthma and my daughter's asthma, who was also prescribed it. Unfortunately, both my daughter and I gained an incredible amount of weight whilst on the medication, which is terribly difficult to shed."
Singulair (montelukast) "Since taking Singulair I have tooth pain, tingling in my face, and a bad metallic taste in my mouth. Plus my anxiety level went up, feel really tired, and very agitated. Stopped taking it last night. Hope these side effects go away soon. This metallic taste is driving me crazy! This is the 2nd time I've tried it. Same side effects and more."
Singulair (montelukast) "I started taking generic Singulair on 7/26/17. By 8/02/17, I started having vivid dreams only at bedtime and every night until today when I called my doctor and got the medication changed. For just under a week, every single night, I couldn't tell if I was awake or dreaming. The first night it happened, I was cuddled up with my husband, sleeping on his chest, and I woke myself up snoring. When I apologized to my husband for snoring so loud, he said I wasn't snoring. I fell asleep again within ten minutes and thought I was still awake, I swore I saw a spider on the sheets by my face on my husband. I jumped up, yelling 'spider!', woke myself up, and freaked out my husband because there was no spider, I had dreamt the whole thing. It only got worse."
Singulair (montelukast) "Worst experience of my life by far! First off, you can expect to have side effects 4-6 weeks after your last dose. I had to be put on anxiety medication because I became extremely distraught. I had night terrors, thoughts of hurting myself and others, even my dog. I managed to separate those thoughts from who I knew I was, but the emotional impact is so real. I also became paranoid that I was someone I was not! Best advice is to first get on an anxiety medication so that you can deal with the daily thoughts. I'm not saying stay on it forever, just while you wait out those weeks. Another key thing is to have someone you can call 24/7 and talk to about the thoughts, someone who knows how you are regularly. Luckily, I still have my mother."
Singulair (montelukast) "I started Singulair some 15-20 years ago. After 12 months, developed dry eyes (in the worst way), seeing problems (cataracts), and angina. After stopping taking the drug, the angina went away and so did the dry eyes. Cataracts were removed. Fast forward to 2018. Nothing was helping the asthma and agreed to go back on Singulair again. After 6 months, the same exact problems came back, had to stop. Angina and blurring eyesight. I am now on Symbicort now for 3 months and the same thing has started to happen. Both meds work very well, but the side effects are the worst."
"I just started taking this medication 4 days ago, and I’m just now reading all of this. I don’t know how long you have to take it before these symptoms start, but so far I’ve experienced none of the negative side effects, and I have not had to use my rescue inhaler at all."
More about montelukast
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (565)
- Drug images
- Latest FDA alerts (4)
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- Patient tips
- During pregnancy
- Support group
- Drug class: leukotriene modifiers
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
- Montelukast drug information
- Montelukast Chewable Tablets
- Montelukast Tablets
- Montelukast Oral Granules
Other brands
Singulair
Professional resources
- Montelukast monograph
- Montelukast Chewable Tablets (FDA)
- Montelukast Oral Granules (FDA)
- Montelukast Tablets (FDA)
Other brands
Singulair
Related treatment guides
- Allergic Rhinitis
- COPD
- Allergies
- Bronchospasm Prophylaxis
- Asthma, Maintenance
- Asthma
