hey having little up and down with the hole pollen I called AUK also people on the forum lots of help have said try montelukast have people tried it and dose it work for you going to see my gp as ask about is as my peak flow is a little up and down atm
comments on pros and cons of this would be gr8
at the current time i am taking symbicort 100/6 3x puff am and 3x puff pm Fexofenadine 120 mg I take 2 a day in the morning also salamol as and when needed
thanks for you advice in advance Mat
Pros- it's been good for my asthma and I think has lessened my hayfever symptoms
Cons- when I started it I had some vivid dreams, since I started taking it earlier in the evening (with agreement of asthma nurse) this has not been a problem
Pros- it's been good for my asthma and I think has lessened my hayfever symptoms
Cons- when I started it I had some vivid dreams, since I started taking it earlier in the evening (with agreement of asthma nurse) this has not been a problem
Thanks lou well that ant to bad is it better than the side affects of perds ! hope u are well mat
Im on double the dose, as the normal dose didnt make any difference. It has always given me terrible nightmares, even with the normal dose.
Im on double the dose, as the normal dose didnt make any difference. It has always given me terrible nightmares, even with the normal dose.
mm ok then have to look what worse nightmares or the summer on preds and the not nice side affects that give me
Definitely has been worth it for me - like NF I'm usually on double dose, though it varies based on pollen levels etc.
Both at the start and on doubling my dose I had difficultly sleeping and a lot of extra headaches (of a particular kind). Those lasted around 2 - 3 weeks each time. I take a drowsy antihistamine at the same time at night so that might have helped with the insomnia / dreaming issues that many folk have.
I know that anecdotally some parents feel that it makes their kids have more mood swings - whether that's direct or due to sleep quality loss I'm not sure.
It seems to be one of those where the range of impacts is really very broad, so I think only trying it out will give you the answers you need.
Definitely has been worth it for me - like NF I'm usually on double dose, though it varies based on pollen levels etc.
Both at the start and on doubling my dose I had difficultly sleeping and a lot of extra headaches (of a particular kind). Those lasted around 2 - 3 weeks each time. I take a drowsy antihistamine at the same time at night so that might have helped with the insomnia / dreaming issues that many folk have.
I know that anecdotally some parents feel that it makes their kids have more mood swings - whether that's direct or due to sleep quality loss I'm not sure.
It seems to be one of those where the range of impacts is really very broad, so I think only trying it out will give you the answers you need.
hey Curiouser
thanks i think i need to weigh up the pros and cons if i don't do something i send up on preds for the summer and i cant bear that as i get the full side a affects of that so i think i going to try it the Auk nurse that i spoke today said about a lot and said your gp will try you on 2 weeks then review you so i give it a go
hope u are ok to cheers for the advice
Mat 
If it helps I'm on a double dose too and it works fairly well for me but I've not noticed any side effects in particular. I do have vivid dreams but then I always have had anyway and mostly I quite enjoy them! Don't get horrendous nightmares or anything any more than usual, and I definitely notice the difference if I don't take it, so for me it's been pretty positive. S
So side effects definitely not universal; as Curiouser says probably worth a try - I find pred much worse for side effects!
If it helps I'm on a double dose too and it works fairly well for me but I've not noticed any side effects in particular. I do have vivid dreams but then I always have had anyway and mostly I quite enjoy them! Don't get horrendous nightmares or anything any more than usual, and I definitely notice the difference if I don't take it, so for me it's been pretty positive. S
So side effects definitely not universal; as Curiouser says probably worth a try - I find pred much worse for side effects!
hey Philomela
thanks for that some people get side affects some people don't that happens for all drugs so I am going to try it
hope you are well
Mat
I took it for my asthma for quite a few years... didn't feel it did much and when I stopped taking them my asthma wasn't
affected at all. not sure if they work differently on different people.
It's been helpful for me. I haven't had any noticeable side effects. You also may luck out and avoid them.
It's been helpful for me. I haven't had any noticeable side effects. You also may luck out and avoid them.
hey Beth
thanks for that looked up the drug online on some sides talking to my gp going to try it for 3 weeks then see how i am hope it works for me well bad dreams will be ok some times have them that's llife
hope u r well maty
Works well for my asthma, and no known side effects for me, have funky dreams but like Philomela, I always have done and enjoy how very weird they can be lol.
I take it and find that it makes a difference! It doesn't do much for hayfever etc other than alleviating asthma symptoms. I take the single dose.
I have found that it *might* make me sleep worse, but I am not sure to be honest. Its a relatively new thing that I am on it (in the last month!) and I have had a huge flare due to pollen, so I am sleeping very badly - though this could be one of 3 things: the montelukast, being on prednisolone, very symptomatic at night which is waking me up!
Have a chat with your GP, theres no harm in trying it!! At the end of the day whats the worse that could happen? It not work?
Take care xxx
I take it and find that it makes a difference! It doesn't do much for hayfever etc other than alleviating asthma symptoms. I take the single dose.
I have found that it *might* make me sleep worse, but I am not sure to be honest. Its a relatively new thing that I am on it (in the last month!) and I have had a huge flare due to pollen, so I am sleeping very badly - though this could be one of 3 things: the montelukast, being on prednisolone, very symptomatic at night which is waking me up!
Have a chat with your GP, theres no harm in trying it!! At the end of the day whats the worse that could happen? It not work?
Take care xxx
hey Laura
going to try them for 3 weeks see how i get on have spoken to my gp via phone she wants to see me first she see thinks i mite need a fast 1 week only worth of pred as well just to get it under control thanks for your advice
take care to Mat x
I take it and its totally helped me allergy symptoms wise.
I am with everyone else though in that I do get vivid dreams. Not scary or horrible, just very real to the point I sometimes talk to friends as if something has happened and it turns out it was one of my vivid dreams....oooops!
I now take the tablet in the morning and this has helped.
x
Glad you had a chat with gp hope the pred sorts you out and that the montelukast helps!!
I don't think that it has any side effects with me at all, because since getting this exacerbation under control I have had 3 nights of not waking etc.
Hope it works
Glad you had a chat with gp hope the pred sorts you out and that the montelukast helps!!
I don't think that it has any side effects with me at all, because since getting this exacerbation under control I have had 3 nights of not waking etc.
Hope it works
Hey Laura good news gp said no pred ! woo i hate it but stronger dose of inhalers see how i am in 2 weeks
take care and thanks
mat
Hey i am back bean on them for three days now no side effects at all atm and my gp sad they would come out in two days but don't no if there affective yet my gp said give it two weeks then we review your peak flow ect as see from there thanks for all the comments and advice
take care everyone hope your all well or getting there
Maty
Thats good Matt I was told it can take up to six weeks for monteleukast to be effective.. (by doctor) how true that is I dont know
I would strongly recommend that you do not take Montelukast if other options are working for you. I am currently waiting to speak to my daughters gp as her behaviour has become out of control since she has been taking this medicine. She is anxious, has horrendous temper tantrums, sleep problems! And that is the short version! I've just posted on a different asthma uk forum asking for help and advice as I am at my wits end with her! The Montelukast definitely has improved her asthma but the side effects are horrendous. Xx
Hi Evie's mum - I'm sorry Evie has such a hard time with montelukast, but I just wanted to reassure Mat that while behaviour / mood problems are a known issue with montelukast, they are more of an issue for kids, at least in part because they can't self-monitor in the same way.
As adults we are usually able to notice / observe our mood and behaviour to some extent, and if you're really badly affected by montelukast in terms of mood then you can tell your GP and stop taking it - so it's worth a go. Also, not everybody taking montelukast has this problem - not even all children, let alone all adults.
Even if you do get mild psychological changes from montelukast, we all know how awful the pred-monster can be - if the outcome of taking montelukast is fewer courses of prednisolone, then that's a win psychologically as far as I'm concerned. Not to mention the myriad other horrible side effects of oral steroids. I don't think Mat would be looking at new medications if his current mix was doing the job.
I hope you manage to get a solution for Evie - it must be horrible for both of you. I'm assuming you're talking to her GP or specialist about this? And I'm guessing that the first thing you've tried is changing the timing of the dose? Have you rung the Asthma UK nurses? I'd be amazed if they didn't have plenty of advice on this area as I think it's something that comes up fairly frequently for little ones.
Cx
Hi Curiouser
Thank-you for replying to me! Your the first person to offer me any support or advice!
I've just been doing a lot of research into this medication since I noticed how it seems to be affecting Evie and there doesn't seem to be a lot of information on this website, even though the website is great!
Montelukast seems to be used a lot in America and adults have experienced nightmares, depression and even suicidal thoughts. Children over the age of 5 have ""bad thoughts"" and feel sad. Under 5's experience night terrors and symptoms similar to my daughter. I am trying to find someone who has experienced similar with a child whilst also warning people how it can affect them while treating the asthma.
I'm so worried my gp is going to say this is normal behaviour for a 2year old because I know my daughter and this is not normal! Yes she can be a little monkey and have naughty moments but she is beyond control at the moment!
Unfortunately she seems to have fallen into the small minority that has side effects, I'm sure many people take it and it helps their asthma with no side effects.
I'm new to asthma so never heard of the other medication you refer too and we have stopped the montelukast altogether because the timing of the day it was given wouldn't have changed how she behaves.
I am waiting for the call from the gp so will see what he says but I hope he has a different medication for her as I don't want her back on montelukast.
I didn't even realise that there were asthma uk nurses so I will definitely call them, thankyou. Xx
Hi Evie's mum
I can't imagine how distressing those side effects are for a young child and the parents. I'm 40 and on a double dose of monteleukast, I take it in the morning as taking it at night gives me the most horrific nightmares which scare me - so I wouldn't want that for a youngster! I still get them but not so bad now it's a morning dose. Sadly the other issues you mention are known side effects. I hope your GP is helpful x
Hi nurse fury,
Thank-you for the support. We have had an awful week with Evie and I am frightened to think what must have been going through her head while she was reacting like this. She must feel awful and we haven't been able to help her.
I truly think it is an awful medication and some of the reactions are so severe including suicide and depression in children aged 7yrs old!
I'm sorry to hear that you experience awful nightmares on this medication, is there nothing else you can take to help your asthma?
I've just spoken to my gp and he believes that Evie has had an adverse reaction to this medication and must stop taking it. He also said her behaviour may not change for a few days as she will experience withdrawal symptoms (she's 2 and it makes her sound like a drug addict!) he wants to see her so that we can come up with a new asthma plan. Fingers crossed things improve!
Hiya, at least the GP agrees with you and is happy for you to stop it, I hope things improve for her soon. I have never experienced withdrawal issues from it (the first time I was prescribed it, it was for six weeks only). I'm already on everything else...!
I'm so sorry your daughter Evie has had a tough time with the drug. It can be very helpful to some people with few or no side effects (I am one), but for others like your daughter, the side effects far outway the benefits.
I'm also very glad your GP listened to your concerns.
By way of reassurance, ""withdrawal"" is simply a way of saying that your daughter's body may take a few days to adjust to the absence of the drug, but will soon be back to her normal behavior patterns.
It does not mean that your daughter became ""addicted"" in the sense of a ""drug addict"" whilst on monolukast.
Hoping your daughter feels better soon.
It helped with my asthma, though I do have vivid dreams, nightmares and insomnia. but with that one, salbutamol, spiricort and the blue inhaler I´m doing quite all right.
My asthma specialist just started me on 10mg Montelukast (at night) last Wednesday, so its early days regarding any side effects.
As for dreams: I'm taking Sertraline (a SSRI) long term for mental health reasons, this med really tamps down my dreaming.
If I miss even one dose I have very vivid dreams that night. I'm already prone to night terrors (even on the Sertraline) so I'm unsure how Montelukast, if at all will affect me. I have felt grumpy, anxious and a bit off form over this weekend, I also haven't been sleeping well. However I've had premenstrual tension & this occasionally can really mess with my head, so I suspect that the culprit is PMT instead of Montelukast. Also I have been probably more stressed recently as my asthma has been deteriorating, and its been a niggling concern.
I'm hoping that Montelukast will not affect my mental health, my sleep cycle is a bit strange anyway so that I can cope with.
This is a useful thread and Eviesmummy I really hope that she can get her meds sorted soon. My mum had to cope with my poor mental health as a child, and it was hard for her so I sympathise with you both.
Montelukast
Trial of Montelukast 
For those who take singulair / montelukast
Fostair 200/6 as MART
