#9: montelukast (Singulair) | Not First-Line But Useful in Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, and EIB

Montelukast is best used as an adjunctive drug. It is best when used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, asthma, and exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). The brand name is Singulair. This drug works through selectively inhibiting the cysteinyl leukotrienes which leads to pulmonary and nasal mucosal benefits along with the alteration of the inflammation process. This comes in several dosage forms being 4 mg packets/granules, a 10 mg tablet, and in 4 mg and 5 mg chewable tablets. Common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, urticaria, and infection. There is a black box warning for serious neuropsychiatric events so it is very important to access/watch for serious signs and symptoms that may be of neuropsychiatric nature, and to weigh the risk/benefits for patient usage.  Go to DrugCardsDaily.com for episode show notes which consist of the drug summary, quiz, and link to the drug card for FREE! Please SUBSCRIBE, FOLLOW, and RATE on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever your favorite place to listen to podcasts are. The main goal is to go over the Top 200 Drugs with the occasional drug of interest. Also, if you’d like to say hello, suggest a drug, or leave some feedback I’d really appreciate hearing from you! Leave a voice message at anchor.fm/drugcardsdaily or find me on twitter @drugcardsdaily