Montelukast for Asthma, Maintenance User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• October 17, 2012

"My son has been on this medication since he was four. He is now 8. He has been a tough child, and I have had some suspicion that something is awry. After reading some of the responses, I had an ah-ha moment. He has been irritable and having tantrums lately. It is rare that he is happy. He nags and whines. He has no asthma symptoms, but I'm not sure if this is due to this medication or if he has outgrown it. I am taking him off this medication and see if I see a change in his disposition."

• DPa...
• May 8, 2019

"This montelukast medication is awful! But at least reading these reviews puts me at ease that I’m not going to go insane because that’s literally where I felt I was heading after just 3 weeks into taking these without realizing it was these. Then, 3 days ago, when I looked at the instructions and other information, I stopped taking them immediately. Never in my life have I experienced mental issues before taking this, and all of a sudden, on montelukast, I was having panic attacks, feeling anxious and depressed, getting tremors, just the most horrible things that I never understood before I felt this! Now I know what people go through. But this drug causes these effects, and apparently, it’s not that uncommon either if you read the instructions, 1 in 100 will experience these side effects. In the scale of things, that isn’t that rare at all, I think. These side effects are dying down, but far from normal yet, clearly, the reviews here speak volumes. Horrible, horrible drug. Stay clear of montelukast!!"

• Mom...
• March 10, 2020

"Montelukast has been life-changing for me. Within 3 days of starting the drug, I slept through the night without being woken by a tight chest. It has really improved my asthma control. I was told by the asthma nurse that it works for 50% of people and does nothing for the other 50%, I would know within a week. I have felt more anxious, but this has been helped by 50 mg of sertraline. I am better than I have been in years."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 20, 2019

"I have mild late-onset asthma. I was prescribed montelukast last year as I was being troubled by a nighttime cough. I took it for a month, and the cough went. As a test for myself, I then didn't take it for a month, and the cough returned. However, the prime reason for my posting this review concerns hay fever and my allergic reaction to certain types of insect bites, horseflies, for example. I have suffered from severe hay fever for over 50 years. In addition to taking antihistamines, I have had to carry about eye drops, nasal spray, and an asthma puffer. This summer - my first on montelukast - I have had no hay fever symptoms at all, and my allergic reaction to those insect bites has been markedly reduced. What more can I say....."

• Doo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2021

Montelukast "I used to have trouble breathing. Would exhale a deep breath and wheeze and cough. I would have to hit my reliever inhaler 3 to 4 times a day. I would wake up at least twice a night to hit my inhaler. I am allergic to nature. I took Singulair for the first night a day ago and slept through the night. Woke up able to breathe. I also have been in a very good mood. Not sure if that's because I can breathe or got a good night's sleep. Either way, it's because of Singulair."

• pri...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 17, 2025

Montelukast "Fantastic for asthma and allergies and sleep apnea. I took this for years, and I remember telling the doc it was awesome, I never wanted to go off it. Ditched the inhaler and didn't have sinus issues. Sadly, was off it for a year, insurance issue. Back on it and not using the inhaler, and my sleep is 100 percent improved. I used to sleep terribly and had vivid dreams. NOW I sleep!!!"

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2024

Montelukast "I can smell again after 20+ years, every medication out there, and sinus surgery. It's the only thing that works. Was prescribed by my pulmonary doc for asthma and allergies and this 'side effect' of restoring my sense of smell has changed my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2012

Montelukast "Compared to last year, I feel my grass pollen allergy far less in my airways this year. Before starting Singulair, I could get asthma attacks from just low amounts of grass pollen. Now, my tolerance has greatly improved. The same goes for my eyes. It took some weeks, but now I hardly need eye drops (i.e., Cromolyn) anymore. This medicine has truly exceeded my expectations. Side effects were slight itching and drowsiness the first two weeks or so."

• Mis...
• April 24, 2010

Montelukast "My asthma's been getting worse every year, and spring allergy season is the worst. I got on Singulair three weeks ago, and it's completely changed my life. I haven't needed my Albuterol at all in the last two weeks. I can breathe free and easy. For the first time in years, I've been able to walk to the store without wheezing. I wish I'd gotten on this a long time ago, but until recently, I couldn't afford the prescription cost. I'll really be happy when a generic is available."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2012

Montelukast "I've been taking Singulair for three weeks now after going off Advair, which is no longer covered by my insurance. I now have to use a rescue inhaler several times a day and am constantly coughing, feel out of breath, and tired. Maybe three weeks isn't long enough of a trial period. I'm hoping my breathing gets better in the next week, or I'm calling the doctor to try another medication."

• Flo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 2, 2020

"I’m really struggling with this. My child has been having terrible episodes since she was a baby. I found Montelukast absolutely amazing for her, it has literally kept her out of the hospital, but I thought I was imagining the terrible side effects until I read this thread. She becomes very angry quickly, having random outbursts. Has night terrors and hyperactivity. Cries uncontrollably about seemingly nothing. Can’t cope with the smallest of things. Is always thirsty, and the list goes on and on. How can 4 mg that helps so amazingly with her breathing do such awful things to her? I read the leaflet again and again, and all the symptoms she was getting were in the “uncommon” section, so I naturally thought I had got it wrong. Especially as she has special needs, but even more reason why I want her off it, as she can’t get a good enough assessment with all these side effects, and it can’t be good for her little brain. I’ve tried giving only when needed, but that isn’t recommended."

• Cat...
• March 22, 2016

"I have severe asthma in response to animal fur and house dust, as well as rhinitis, swollen eyes, and skin weals in extreme cases. I obviously avoided these danger areas but found it limiting. I have kept my mild ongoing asthma under control using Ventolin and Seretide over the years and have also had to take one Cetirizine antihistamine a day for the last 10 years for chronic idiopathic urticaria. No one could tell me what it was that was causing the hives. Recently, I got a dog, did some online research, and found Singulair (Montelukast). OMG, why wasn't this mentioned before? I got my GP to prescribe it. In short... I do not get asthma, I no longer sneeze, my eyes are not itching/swollen, and I do not have urticaria anymore!!!"

• Os5...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2017

"Spent almost the full month on montelukast. Thought it was working okay, felt some sleepiness but was told that was normal. By the middle of the month, I had experienced almost daily panic attacks and mood swings. By the end of the month, depression arrived, which got even darker. Felt like myself again about three days after stopping the dose. Anyone prescribed this should be aware of this possibility before they start, not by finding help online like I did. It can be helpful, but in my case, was completely not worth it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2017

"I was put on this drug for asthma control (coughing up clear jelly-type mucus from all my inhaler use) and allergies, as I kept getting chest infections and sinusitis, as well as bad asthma symptoms, which I've had all my life. My inhalers were no longer working sufficiently, so a doctor at the hospital prescribed me this drug. I can say that I felt a difference very quickly and have never been able to breathe so well. It has made such a difference to my daily life. I have only taken my blue inhalers once since on it, and I don't feel so out of breath in the cold and when doing exercise anymore. It has definitely helped with my allergies too. Life changer for me! I haven't been on it long enough to advise any side effects, but so far, so good."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2020

"Do not take Singulair (montelukast)! While on, I had severe mental health issues and was very down and depressed. Could not focus in school at all, and it was such a low point for me. Really didn’t notice much of a difference in my allergic asthma at all either."

• ENF...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2016

"This medication worked wonders for my asthma! No wheezing and no longer needed my rescue inhaler. After about 2 weeks of taking montelukast, my feet and ankles started swelling, and my hands and feet started going numb. I eventually had to go to the ER and learned that I had extremely high levels of eosinophils in my blood and was advised to stop taking montelukast immediately. I have been off of montelukast for about a month now, and I am finally getting feeling back in my fingers and toes. If you experience swelling or numbness, get yourself to a doctor and stop taking this medication right away!"

• Anonymous
• September 16, 2010

Montelukast "I have been using Singulair for an extended time. It seems to help with asthma, but I'm wondering if I developed side effects and just didn't realize. If I'm barely bumped, I get bad bruises; I have sinus infections very frequently, and lately, I have a low-grade fever often with no apparent cause."

• Ros...
• November 13, 2020

"On montelukast, I had headaches, restlessness, restless leg, and acid reflux got worse. My whole body ached. Then I started having dreams. It felt like these vivid dreams would last all night. I was falling asleep earlier and waking up later. Sleeping 10+ hours and woke feeling I had not slept at all. The dreams turned into vivid nightmares waking me. I was exhausted. I was in a constant fog, and my brain and body didn't want to function. I stopped montelukast 6 days ago. I don't feel normal yet. Still dreaming and tired, but the dreams are less vivid and not scary. I'm still sore and worn out, and I've had an achy stomach since I stopped, but I'm not sure if it's an effect of this. The only positive is it did help with the asthma, and now that I stopped, I can feel it again. I will take asthma over the effects of this medication any day, though. I am giving a negative rating since the terrible side effects so greatly outweigh the benefits. It completely destroyed my quality of life by the end period of taking this."

• mad...
• February 4, 2016

"I didn't see a difference in my 8-year-old's symptoms. She became depressed quickly. She started to say she wanted to die! We discontinued use as soon as we realized it was the meds. Now she's happy again."

• cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2016

"I decided to try Montelukast (generic of Singulair) after a severe bout of cough/flu aggravated by my asthma, which lasted for well over 8 weeks. Initially, I had a very bad headache for at least a week, unabating, and the unusual fatigue and tiredness, regardless of what activity I did. The headache dissipated, but the lethargy has continued, and I never felt like I regained the energy I used to have. So this is very disturbing. I had hoped that after persisting with it for 4-5 months, I would feel better, but I don't. The tiredness pretty much starts almost immediately after I have taken the tablet in the evening. The other thing which is annoying is the stupid, senseless dreams, which I find very hard to wake up from!"

• ora...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2016

"Taking montelukast for a week now, and I do notice improvement with my asthma. However, the side effects are not worth dealing with. Right away, I started having crazy dreams every night while on it. I also felt very anxious. As much as it did help with my asthma, I will not continue to take it. I will be just fine with just the Advair Disk."

• Lef...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 20, 2021

"I am a licensed mental health counselor and have taken montelukast without any neuropsych issues. It has helped me breathe again, where daily Flonase and antihistamines did very little for my non-allergic rhinitis and seasonal asthma."

• Tha...
• September 30, 2017

"This did increase my son's asthma numbers, and he took it for a year without noticeable side effects. However, I took one tablet after asking to be prescribed this drug for allergies. And I turned way crazy! Took it before bed, sweated so much all night my sheets were drenched! Woke up to tremors, big time. At work, the first little thing that I could not figure out, I lost all control over my emotions! It then went from bad to worse, as I suddenly did not care about my life, I was down at the bottom of a dark hole. I texted my significant other I was going to write up my will in case I didn't last the weekend! Did not suspect the pill at first...but thank God I didn't take it again and was back to normal-Beware!"

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 8, 2024

Montelukast "I was misdiagnosed and suffered for years until Singulair. After a month, I had a bout of depression, anxiety, nightmares (real bad), cramps in toes, etc. BUT I had a new lease on life. My debilitating asthma attacks were gone. Still, I opted to stop and switched to a similar product. It didn't work. My daily 7-11 asthma attacks were back. I was coughing until I was vomiting 3 times a day again. I was debilitated. So I made the conscious decision to go back to Singulair and keep close tabs on my mental health. It’s been a year now... no nightmares, no cramps, and I can breathe and live. I recommend it, but keep a very close watch and keep your doctor apprised regularly."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2018

"My son's first day on this drug was a mom’s worst nightmare. My son is 3 and a half years old. On the first day, his nose was bleeding. The worst part was he was banging his leg on the furniture and saying, “Mom, I want to hurt myself!” He kept saying it over and over. My son is the happiest and funniest boy you would ever meet. He is always happy, and this was not like him at all. Today will be his first and will be the last day on this medication!!!!!"