Singulair Side Effects

Please note - some side effects for Singulair may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Singulair - for the Consumer

Singulair

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Singulair:

Cough; dizziness; headache; indigestion; nausea; stomach upset or pain; stuffy nose; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); aggressive behavior; agitation; dark urine; fever; flu-like symptoms; hallucinations; irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes; new or worsening wheezing or other breathing problems; numbness or tingling of hands or feet; seizures; severe or persistent stomach pain; severe sinus inflammation; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling; unusual bruising or bleeding; upper respiratory tract infection; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Singulair Chewable Tablets

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Singulair Chewable Tablets:

Cough; dizziness; headache; indigestion; nausea; stomach upset or pain; stuffy nose; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); aggressive behavior; agitation; dark urine; fever; flu-like symptoms; hallucinations; irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes; new or worsening wheezing or other breathing problems; numbness or tingling of hands or feet; seizures; severe or persistent stomach pain; severe sinus inflammation; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling; unusual bruising or bleeding; upper respiratory tract infection; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Singulair Granules

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Singulair Granules:

Cough; dizziness; headache; indigestion; nausea; stomach upset or pain; stuffy nose; tiredness; trouble sleeping; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); aggressive behavior; agitation; dark urine; fever; flu-like symptoms; hallucinations; irregular heartbeat; mental or mood changes; new or worsening wheezing or other breathing problems; numbness or tingling of hands or feet; seizures; severe or persistent stomach pain; severe sinus inflammation; suicidal thoughts or actions; swelling; unusual bruising or bleeding; upper respiratory tract infection; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Singulair Side Effects - for the Professional

Singulair

Adults and Adolescents 15 Years of Age and Older with Asthma

Singulair has been evaluated for safety in approximately 2950 adult and adolescent patients 15 years of age and older in clinical trials. In placebo-controlled clinical trials, the following adverse experiences reported with Singulair occurred in greater than or equal to 1% of patients and at an incidence greater than that in patients treated with placebo, regardless of causality assessment:

The frequency of less common adverse events was comparable between Singulair and placebo.

The safety profile of Singulair when administered as a single dose for prevention of EIB in adult and adolescent patients 15 years of age and older was consistent with the safety profile previously described for Singulair.

Cumulatively, 569 patients were treated with Singulair for at least 6 months, 480 for one year, and 49 for two years in clinical trials. With prolonged treatment, the adverse experience profile did not significantly change.

Pediatric Patients 6 to 14 Years of Age with Asthma

Singulair has been evaluated for safety in 476 pediatric patients 6 to 14 years of age. Cumulatively, 289 pediatric patients were treated with Singulair for at least 6 months, and 241 for one year or longer in clinical trials. The safety profile of Singulair in the 8-week, double-blind, pediatric efficacy trial was generally similar to the adult safety profile. In pediatric patients 6 to 14 years of age receiving Singulair, the following events occurred with a frequency ≥2% and more frequently than in pediatric patients who received placebo, regardless of causality assessment: pharyngitis, influenza, fever, sinusitis, nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, otitis, viral infection, and laryngitis. The frequency of less common adverse events was comparable between Singulair and placebo. With prolonged treatment, the adverse experience profile did not significantly change.

In studies evaluating growth rate, the safety profile in these pediatric patients was consistent with the safety profile previously described for Singulair. In a 56-week, double-blind study evaluating growth rate in pediatric patients 6 to 8 years of age receiving Singulair, the following events not previously observed with the use of Singulair in this age group occurred with a frequency ≥2% and more frequently than in pediatric patients who received placebo, regardless of causality assessment: headache, rhinitis (infective), varicella, gastroenteritis, atopic dermatitis, acute bronchitis, tooth infection, skin infection, and myopia.

Pediatric Patients 2 to 5 Years of Age with Asthma

Singulair has been evaluated for safety in 573 pediatric patients 2 to 5 years of age in single- and multiple-dose studies. Cumulatively, 426 pediatric patients 2 to 5 years of age were treated with Singulair for at least 3 months, 230 for 6 months or longer, and 63 patients for one year or longer in clinical trials. Singulair 4 mg administered once daily at bedtime was generally well tolerated in clinical trials. In pediatric patients 2 to 5 years of age receiving Singulair, the following events occurred with a frequency ≥2% and more frequently than in pediatric patients who received placebo, regardless of causality assessment: fever, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, rhinorrhea, sinusitis, otitis, influenza, rash, ear pain, gastroenteritis, eczema, urticaria, varicella, pneumonia, dermatitis, and conjunctivitis.

Pediatric Patients 6 to 23 Months of Age with Asthma

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients younger than 12 months of age with asthma have not been established.

Singulair has been evaluated for safety in 175 pediatric patients 6 to 23 months of age. The safety profile of Singulair in a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was generally similar to the safety profile in adults and pediatric patients 2 to 14 years of age. Singulair administered once daily at bedtime was generally well tolerated. In pediatric patients 6 to 23 months of age receiving Singulair, the following events occurred with a frequency ≥2% and more frequently than in pediatric patients who received placebo, regardless of causality assessment: upper respiratory infection, wheezing; otitis media; pharyngitis, tonsillitis, cough; and rhinitis. The frequency of less common adverse events was comparable between Singulair and placebo.

Adults and Adolescents 15 Years of Age and Older with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Singulair has been evaluated for safety in 2199 adult and adolescent patients 15 years of age and older in clinical trials. Singulair administered once daily in the morning or in the evening was generally well tolerated with a safety profile similar to that of placebo. In placebo-controlled clinical trials, the following event was reported with Singulair with a frequency ≥1% and at an incidence greater than placebo, regardless of causality assessment: upper respiratory infection, 1.9% of patients receiving Singulair vs. 1.5% of patients receiving placebo. In a 4-week, placebo-controlled clinical study, the safety profile was consistent with that observed in 2-week studies. The incidence of somnolence was similar to that of placebo in all studies.

Pediatric Patients 2 to 14 Years of Age with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Singulair has been evaluated in 280 pediatric patients 2 to 14 years of age in a 2-week, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group safety study. Singulair administered once daily in the evening was generally well tolerated with a safety profile similar to that of placebo. In this study, the following events occurred with a frequency ≥2% and at an incidence greater than placebo, regardless of causality assessment: headache, otitis media, pharyngitis, and upper respiratory infection.

Adults and Adolescents 15 Years of Age and Older with Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Singulair has been evaluated for safety in 3357 adult and adolescent patients 15 years of age and older with perennial allergic rhinitis of whom 1632 received Singulair in two, 6-week, clinical studies. Singulair administered once daily was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with that observed in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and similar to that of placebo. In these two studies, the following events were reported with Singulair with a frequency ≥1% and at an incidence greater than placebo, regardless of causality assessment: sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, sinus headache, cough, epistaxis, and increased ALT. The incidence of somnolence was similar to that of placebo.

Pediatric Patients 6 Months to 14 Years of Age with Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

The safety in patients 2 to 14 years of age with perennial allergic rhinitis is supported by the established safety in patients 2 to 14 years of age with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The safety in patients 6 to 23 months of age is supported by data from pharmacokinetic and safety and efficacy studies in asthma in this pediatric population and from adult pharmacokinetic studies.

Post-Marketing Experience

The following additional adverse reactions have been reported in post-marketing use:

Blood and lymphatic system disorders: increased bleeding tendency

Immune system disorders: hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, very rarely hepatic eosinophilic infiltration

Psychiatric disorders: agitation including aggressive behavior, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), tremor

Nervous system disorders: drowsiness, paraesthesia/hypoesthesia, very rarely seizures

Cardiac disorders: palpitations

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: epistaxis

Gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea, very rarely pancreatitis, vomiting

Hepatobiliary disorders: Rare cases of cholestatic hepatitis, hepatocellular liver-injury, and mixed-pattern liver injury have been reported in patients treated with Singulair. Most of these occurred in combination with other confounding factors, such as use of other medications, or when Singulair was administered to patients who had underlying potential for liver disease such as alcohol use or other forms of hepatitis.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: angioedema, bruising, erythema nodosum, pruritus, urticaria

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: arthralgia, myalgia including muscle cramps

General disorders and administration site conditions: edema

In rare cases, patients with asthma on therapy with Singulair may present with systemic eosinophilia, sometimes presenting with clinical features of vasculitis consistent with Churg-Strauss syndrome, a condition which is often treated with systemic corticosteroid therapy. These events usually, but not always, have been associated with the reduction of oral corticosteroid therapy. Physicians should be alert to eosinophilia, vasculitic rash, worsening pulmonary symptoms, cardiac complications, and/or neuropathy presenting in their patients. A causal association between Singulair and these underlying conditions has not been established.

Side Effects by Body System

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache (18% to 20%) and dizziness (2%). Isolated and rare reports of somnolence have been associated with the use of higher than recommended doses. Seizures have been reported very rarely. Paresthesias, hypoesthesia, and drowsiness and have been reported in postmarketing experiences.

Respiratory

Respiratory system side effects have included influenza (4%), cough (3%), and nasal congestion (2%). In some studies, upper respiratory tract infection (28%) and worsened asthma (4% to 11%) were associated with the use of this drug. However, many patients with asthma have some or all of these symptoms, and a causal relationship has not been proven. Rhinorrhea, sinusitis, otitis, influenza, epistaxis, and pneumonia have also been reported.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included abdominal pain, dyspepsia, or infectious gastroenteritis in up to 3% of patients. Diarrhea has been associated with the use of higher than recommended doses.

General

In general, montelukast is well-tolerated. Asthenia, fatigue, or fever has been associated with the use of this drug in approximately 2% of patients. Varicella has also been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included rash, eczema, urticaria, and dermatitis.

Churg-Strauss syndrome has been reported in association with montelukast therapy.

Hepatic

Postmarketing experience has reported rare cases of cholestatic hepatitis, hepatocellular liver injury and mixed-pattern liver injury.

Hepatic side effects have included elevated hepatic serum transaminases in approximately 2% of patients. Pancreatitis has been reported very rarely. Jaundice with elevated liver enzymes are described in a 42-year-old man several months after starting montelukast therapy. Serum enzymes completely normalized 4 months after drug withdrawal.

Other

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare granulomatous eosinophilic condition that involves the upper and lower airways and manifests as rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma. If untreated the syndrome may progress to systemic vasculitis, peripheral neuropathy and potentially fatal cardiac complications. In most cases, the condition emerged during withdrawal of oral corticosteroid therapy. A causative role for leukotriene receptor antagonists has not been ruled out.

Other side effects have included isolated cases of Churg-Strauss syndrome, a rare systemic vasculitis associated with asthma.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included myalgia, muscle cramps, and muscle aches. Postmarketing experience has reported arthralgia.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects have included increased bleeding tendencies and bruising.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included conjunctivitis.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included agitation including aggressive behavior, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor.

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