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What Is Singulair?

Singulair is a prescription medication containing montelukast sodium, a leukotriene receptor antagonist. It is approved for long-term asthma treatment, prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, and relief of certain allergic rhinitis symptoms in eligible patients. Singulair is available as oral tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules, with strengths selected according to age. It blocks inflammatory signaling involved in airway narrowing and allergy symptoms. Singulair is not a rescue medication for a sudden asthma attack. It carries a boxed warning for serious neuropsychiatric events, including suicidal thoughts and behavior. For allergic rhinitis, treatment is reserved for patients who have not responded adequately to or cannot tolerate alternative therapies.

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What Is Singulair?

Singulair is a prescription medication containing montelukast sodium, a leukotriene receptor antagonist. It is approved for long-term asthma treatment, prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, and relief of certain allergic rhinitis symptoms in eligible patients. Singulair is available as oral tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules, with strengths selected according to age. It blocks inflammatory signaling involved in airway narrowing and allergy symptoms. Singulair is not a rescue medication for a sudden asthma attack. It carries a boxed warning for serious neuropsychiatric events, including suicidal thoughts and behavior. For allergic rhinitis, treatment is reserved for patients who have not responded adequately to or cannot tolerate alternative therapies.

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How Does Singulair Work?

Singulair blocks cysteinyl leukotriene type 1 receptors, which respond to inflammatory substances such as leukotriene D4. Leukotrienes contribute to airway muscle contraction, mucus production, swelling, and other allergic or inflammatory responses. By preventing leukotrienes from activating their receptors, montelukast can reduce components of asthma-related inflammation and allergic rhinitis symptoms. It can also help prevent airway narrowing associated with exercise. Singulair does not act quickly enough to relieve an acute asthma attack and does not replace prescribed rescue inhalers. Its therapeutic effects differ from inhaled corticosteroids, and patients should not discontinue other asthma medicines without medical advice.

What Conditions Does Singulair Treat?

Singulair is approved for the prevention and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and children aged 12 months and older. It also prevents exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in patients aged six years and older. For allergic rhinitis, it treats seasonal symptoms in patients aged two years and older and perennial symptoms in patients aged six months and older. Because of potentially serious neuropsychiatric reactions, Singulair should be reserved for allergic rhinitis when other therapies have not worked adequately or cannot be tolerated. It is not approved for treating sudden asthma attacks. A clinician considers symptom severity, treatment alternatives, age, and mental health history before prescribing it.

How Should Singulair Be Taken?

For asthma, Singulair is taken orally once daily in the evening. Adults and adolescents aged 15 years and older receive 10 mg daily, children aged six through 14 years receive 5 mg, and children aged two through five years receive 4 mg. Children aged 12 through 23 months may receive 4 mg oral granules. For allergic rhinitis, treatment is generally taken once daily at a time suitable for the patient. For exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, eligible patients take one dose at least two hours before exercise and should not take an additional dose within 24 hours. Patients already taking Singulair daily should not take an extra dose before exercise. Oral granules have specific administration instructions.

What Are the Side Effects and Warnings of Singulair?

Common adverse effects include headache, abdominal discomfort, cough, and upper respiratory symptoms. Singulair carries a boxed warning for serious neuropsychiatric events, including agitation, aggression, sleep disturbances, depression, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts or behavior. These reactions have occurred in patients with and without previous psychiatric conditions and may arise during treatment or after discontinuation. Patients experiencing new behavioral or mood changes should stop Singulair and contact a healthcare professional immediately. Other risks include hypersensitivity reactions and rare eosinophilic conditions. Because of the mental health warning, Singulair is not preferred for mild allergic rhinitis when effective alternatives are available.

Common Questions About Singulair

Is Singulair the same as montelukast?

Yes. Singulair contains montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist used for selected asthma and allergy-related conditions.

Can Singulair stop a sudden asthma attack?

No. Singulair is not a rescue treatment for acute asthma attacks. Patients should use their prescribed rescue medication and seek emergency care for severe symptoms.

Why does Singulair have a boxed warning?

Singulair has been associated with serious mental health and behavioral changes, including suicidal thoughts and behavior. Patients should stop treatment and contact their clinician if these symptoms develop.

Can Singulair treat seasonal allergies?

Yes. It is approved for seasonal allergic rhinitis in patients aged two years and older, but should be reserved for those who do not respond adequately to or cannot tolerate other treatments.

References

DailyMed - SINGULAIR (montelukast sodium) tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=482dcc92-b47f-4ea6-854a-f5ac2aea7842. Date Accessed November 10, 2026.

FDA Requires Boxed Warning About Serious Mental Health Side Effects for Asthma and Allergy Drug Montelukast (Singulair); Advises Restricting Use for Allergic Rhinitis. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-communications/fda-requires-boxed-warning-about-serious-mental-health-side-effects-asthma-and-allergy-drug. Date Accessed November 10, 2026.

Montelukast. LiverTox. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548264/. Date Accessed November 10, 2026.

Montelukast. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Montelukast. Date Accessed November 10, 2026.

SINGULAIR Prescribing Information. DailyMed. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=482dcc92-b47f-4ea6-854a-f5ac2aea7842. Date Accessed November 10, 2026.