User:Mr. Ibrahem/Montelukast

Montelukast, sold under the brand name Singulair among others, is a medication used in the maintenance treatment of asthma. It is generally less preferred for this use than inhaled corticosteroids. It is not useful for acute asthma attacks. Other uses include allergic rhinitis and hives of long duration. For allergic rhinitis it is a second line treatment. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include abdominal pain, cough, and headache. Severe side effects may include allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis and eosinophilia. Use in pregnancy appears to be safe. Montelukast is in the leukotriene receptor antagonist family of medications. It works by blocking the action of leukotriene D4 in the lungs resulting in decreased inflammation and relaxation of smooth muscle.

Montelukast was approved for medical use in the United States in 1998. It is available as a generic medication. In the United States, the wholesale cost per dose is less than 0.15 USD as of 2018. In 2017, it was the 16th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 31 million prescriptions.