Montelukast helps prevent asthma symptoms and eases allergic rhinitis. It is a preventer taken daily — it cannot stop an asthma attack that is already happening.
- Generic name
- Montelukast sodium
- Active ingredient
- Montelukast sodium
- Common brands in India
- Montair, Montek, Telekast, Odimont
- Available as
- Tablet, Chewable tablet, Granules
- Common strengths
- 4 mg, 5 mg chewable, 10 mg
- How it is sold
- Prescription only — needs a doctor's prescription
No dosage information on this page
The correct dose depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function, other medicines and medical history. Follow the dose your doctor prescribed, or the instructions on the pack. Never copy a dose from a website or from someone else's prescription.
What Montelukast is used for
- Preventing asthma symptoms, usually alongside an inhaler rather than instead of one
- Allergic rhinitis — sneezing, running and blocked nose
- Preventing wheeze brought on by exercise
- Asthma that comes with strong allergy symptoms, where one medicine can help both
How it works
In allergy and asthma the body releases chemicals called leukotrienes, which tighten the airways, swell their lining and produce mucus. Montelukast blocks them from acting. Because it prevents that process rather than reversing it, it works over days rather than minutes.
How to take Montelukast
- Take it once a day, usually in the evening.
- Take it every day, including on days when you feel completely well. A preventer only works if the level stays steady.
- It can be taken with or without food.
- Chewable tablets are chewed, not swallowed whole. Granules can be given straight or mixed with a spoonful of soft food.
- Keep using your inhalers as prescribed. Montelukast does not replace them.
Precautions
- Watch for changes in mood, sleep or behaviour, particularly in children — see the warning below.
- It is not a rescue medicine. Keep your reliever inhaler with you.
- Tell your doctor if your asthma symptoms are getting worse rather than better after starting it.
- Tell your doctor about liver problems and about all your other medicines.
Common side effects
Not everyone gets side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these are troublesome or do not settle.
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Disturbed sleep or vivid dreams
- Thirst or a dry mouth
- Upper respiratory infections, reported commonly in trials
Important warnings
- Montelukast can cause changes in mood and behaviour — agitation, anxiety, low mood, sleep disturbance, nightmares and, rarely, thoughts of self-harm. Medicine regulators have issued specific warnings about this. It can happen in adults and in children. If you or your child notice a change in mood or behaviour after starting it, contact your doctor rather than continuing and hoping it settles.
- It cannot stop an asthma attack. During an attack use your reliever inhaler and get medical help.
- Do not stop your inhaled preventer and rely on montelukast instead unless your doctor has specifically told you to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is montelukast a steroid?
No. It works in a completely different way, by blocking the leukotrienes that tighten and inflame the airways. People often assume any asthma preventer is a steroid — montelukast is not one, though it is frequently used alongside a steroid inhaler.
Can montelukast stop an asthma attack?
No. It is a preventer, taken daily to make attacks less likely. During an attack you need your reliever inhaler, such as salbutamol, and medical help if it does not settle quickly.
Does montelukast cause mood changes?
It can. Agitation, anxiety, low mood, nightmares and disturbed sleep are recognised effects, and regulators have warned about them specifically, including rare thoughts of self-harm. This is worth knowing about before starting, and worth telling your doctor about promptly if it happens — particularly with children, who may not describe it clearly.
What are the side effects of montelukast?
Headache, stomach pain, disturbed sleep and vivid dreams are the common ones. The effects on mood and behaviour are the ones that most need watching for.
What this costs, and what is free
Commonly available free at government hospitals and health and wellness centres when prescribed there.
Generic versions are sold at Jan Aushadhi Kendras at substantially lower prices than branded packs of the same medicine.
The same molecule is sold under many brand names at very different prices. Ask your doctor to write the generic name, and compare at a Jan Aushadhi Kendra — the saving on a medicine taken daily is often substantial over a year. You can look up any medicine's official ceiling price on NPPA's Pharma Sahi Daam app.
Source: Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
Prices and scheme rules change. Confirm current details with the hospital or Kendra before you rely on them.
Looking for Montelukast locally?Aswini Medicals is a pharmacy that stocks everyday medicines and can advise on availability.
Visit Aswini Medicals