I’ve just been prescribed Montelukast for my asthma. I have to take 10mg every night.
I also use Symbicort as a preventer and ventolin when needed.
I have googled Montelukast and a lot of people have described side affects, such as weight gain, weird dreams and seizures.
Can’t anyone here let me know their experiences ?
Thank you in advance !
I’ve taken it for years, it really helps my chest. The only side effect for me is frequently waking with a headache. This can be ameliorated by using several pillows so I’m not lying too flat.
Thank you Hanne62, I was worried when I read some Of the reviews.
I will be starting it tonight so I’m sure it will take a while to get into my system.
Have a great evening 😊😊
Ps, do you still take your preventer inhaler?
Yes, I’m on the max dose of that but my asthma is very difficult. You may find you need yours less, as montelukast has an anti-inflammatory effect. I noticed quite an improvement within a couple of weeks of starting on it - I hope the same goes for you!
I do hope it helps .. and thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it 😊
Another thing which really helped me was Spiriva Respimat. Originally a COPD drug but then found to benefit asthma too. I don’t know if you’ve tried it but bear it in mind.
I wish I could take Phyllocontin. It improved my breathing a lot but unfortunately made me so tachycardic I couldn’t function.
This is the first time I have been given a tablet. I’ve always been on Symbicort and Bricinyl for years. After pneumonia in March and breathing difficulties in April, I was changed to Symbicort and Ventolin.
I take montelukast and have suffered no negative effects at all. Many many people don't. Don't forget you're more likely to read negative reports because if something works nicely they just get on with it.
It won't replace a preventer inhaler because it's an add-on medication, not a replacement (usually).
Hi. I have been on it for about 5 months with no problems.
I used to take Monte, but didn’t benefit greatly from it (it seems to be one of those drugs that either really helps or does nothing).
For me side effect wise I got really vivid lucid dreams. Anything I watched before bed I re-watched in my dream, fully aware I was rewatching 🙄😂. Useful for revision, not so much when it was the GoT red wedding (literally remember being ‘sat’ at a table in my dream, eye rolling cause I wasn’t impressed 😅😂)😂. No nightmares on it. Most people find the side effects calm down after a bit of time, others switch and take it in the morning instead and do better that way.
With any drug there are side effect potentials. Find out if you get them and what they are, then work out if you can cope with them. Ie is lucid dreams better or worse than the additional asthma control you’ve gained. If the side effects are too great and the benefit too small you return to your doc to discuss it.
Hope this helps
Hi EmmaF91, thank you for your advice. I have seen from other people questions, your replies are always full of advice and guidance.
First night taking it last night and no problems and my chest feels better, not congested like it has been. But we will see how it goes over the next month.
I think my husband would love to get repeats of GoT at night!! Lol
Have been on for over 7yrs no side affects, benefits me greatly. However I also have a L.A.S.E.R over my head at night too
I’ve been taking it for a few years now and don’t have any issues with it at all.
Thank you Clairebear35. I will let you all know how it goes.
Have been on montelucast for many years in addition to prednisolone uniphylline spiriva and other meds.
No problems at all with it .
Good luck
Hi Eibhlinn I've been on symbicort and montelukust for 10 years or so... and am not aware of side effects. If anything has changed for the negative I put it down to age etc. 🤣 For me the good outweighs the bad... Like you say its easier to find negative reports then positive. I take monte at night as I started on it to help me not cough so much at night and therefore sleep better after a long bout of bad chest infections.
So I'd say give it a good try and see if it helps.
I think it does work well for lots of people but for both me and my Granddaughter the side effects were too much. You have read them so you will be more aware. Just keep an eye out and check with those that know you well for any worrying changes.
Morning, I have been taking Singulair for many years and for me it was such a relief to be able to finally lie down without 3 pillows and sleep. So hopefully u too find it useful.
Side effects initially a very bad headache.
The only longterm one is skin sensitivity to most manufacturers laundry / soap products. I now use colourant and perfume free products without further issue.
On balance I found this was an inconvenience worth accepting for being able to breathe far more easily taking montelukast.
Good luck.
Hi 888Naples, thank you for your reply. Yes, I woke with a headache this morning and after being up for a while it’s gone. But what works for me may not work for someone else. Nothing bests a try ! 😊😊
I also use perfume free laundry detergent and have done for a while. It’s all connected.
I have taken M for a while now. I had problems the 1st time I tried it- but I think that may have been due to high dose of predisolone I just been on. On the 2nd time of trying-no problems and it makes a really big difference. I'd give it a good try if that's what the medics recommend.
Good luck. It has really improved my mornings so i hope it helps you to.
I first had it when I was about 19. At the time it gave me such bad nightmares that I couldn't continue as it produced a rather nervous and hypervigilent reaction for me in the day time. 18 years later, I've just started it 5 weeks ago again and no problem with dreams. I have put on 16lbs however I have also had 2 courses of steroids and I'm dramatically less active.
I only had a small improvement so Braltus has been added in thanks to needing a second course of steroids. I tend to be odd though in that I tend to be ok for long periods then get a rapid enough deterioration where my treatment needs to go a few changes before I stabilise.
It is fantastic and really helps my asthma. No side effects that I have noticed.
I tried it years ago and had nightmares/sleep walking. Tried again recently and got severe stomach pains in right side- so I’ve given up.
Hi. Seahorsepurple, I had stomach pain during the night... I didn’t it would be the tablet.... I will monitor that, thank you 😊
I have been on Monteleukast more than 10 years with no side affects.
Note people are more likely to review if had a bad effect so that may be why seen so many reviews saying about the side affects.
Remember there are many who don't get side effects.
Obviously if you get side effects you discuss with the Dr if mild do the side effects outweigh the benefit of the drug. There is an alternative.
Give it a try unless any obvious, uncomfortable or severe effects give it 3-4 months before decide if it works as most medicines need time to show benefits
Thank you, LDloveslattecoffe, I will give it a go! I am very active and do about 10km a day. If it helps my asthma, I will be very happy.
Nothing beats a try 😊
Hi, I’ve been taking it since January, as my asthma hadn’t quite under control for a while. I so wish I’d had it earlier. Within 1 week of taking I remembered what it was like to breathe with out tightness. 😆
I've had some breathing problems for a few months now, and was prescribed it when we thought asthma was the issue. Seems its more of an acid reflux thing now, so i only took it for a couple of weeks. The side effects really worried me too. But all i got was a really gurgling stomach and headaches. Nothing bad. If you find you do get issues at night with it, you can switch to taking it in the morning apparently.
Apparently it’s best to take it at night cos that increases the anti-inflammatory effect, I forget how. But it can be taken in the morning if necessary.
Yeh i think it just depends how badly you suffer from the side effects and if it means you're not getting any sleep.
I've been on Montelukast for years and only get vivid dreams a couple of times a week. It helps my allergies & if I miss a dose I can tell as I get quite wheezy.
My asthma nurse did say that she follows up with her patients just starting Montelukast after 4 to 6 weeks to ensure it's working and the patient is OK. I would definitely have a follow up appointment in about 6 weeks so you can review it's efficacy with your GP/asthma nurse.
All the best and I hope it does the trick.
I have been on it for over five years and no negative side effects. Love it! I notice a huge difference. 
I have read the posts too, and I was a little nervous about it. Try it out. It may not affect you that way, and see how it goes.
Hi Willow7733, the negative posts frightened me, I must say. But replies here are more positive. If I don’t try it, I won’t know.
Thank you 😊
Oh they scared me too! Some people really were affected by it. So far, I haven’t been...and to be honest, if I miss a couple of doses (I tend to forget medication some days when I am really tired from work. I get home and just sleep as soon as I get in.), I really notice the difference in the morning. I can sleep better through the night too when I take it. I was most worried about the reports of bad nightmares (I watch a lot of horror movies), but so far so good with me. Not one nightmare in years. Just be aware of what to look out for and if it does affect you negatively, then contact your doctor.
I will thank you!! I’m very optimistic 😊
I have used Montelukast for years now and have never had side effects on it. I take that and Seretide twice a day and my asthma is fairly well controlled.
Hi,
I have been taking this since last October with no side effects.
Haven't really noticed any benefits either so will discuss with my consultant at my appointment in August.
C 🤔
I be prescribed montelukast for my trigger like pollen cut grass. It has done wonder for me. I can enjoy the summer better. I have not had any side effect.
I've been on for it for well over 10 years and I have had no problems with it, not 1 side effects yet so don't worry about it if your Dr or consultant has put you on it they wouldn't prescribe it if you didn't need.
If you still worried have a talk with either your Dr, Asthma nurse or your Consultant if you're seeing one they reassure you.
Can I make one suggestion I never read the leathlet unless you have symptoms of a reaction because reading it does scare the living daylights out ofyou and starts to make you worry as well and I was told by a pharmacist about not reading it the pharmaceutical company only print it to cover themselves from any legal actions.
Like I said I've had no side effects from the medication and I've been taking it for a long time.
My sister takes M., & has for years; I tried M, It burned holes through my stomach, so I now take its cousin Zafralukast . I take Z. in the morning, in between bites of oatmeal & with plenty of water. It makes huge differences for us. Taking it in the morning, eliminates the side effects for me & the Benefits are huge!
Hello I've taken montelukast for years and it's fine.
I took just one tablet a few night ago. Had 4 hours of stomach pain. I reported it to my GP. Not taking it again.
I've been on it for a couple of years now (I think?) Havent really noticed any side effects apart from the really vivid dreams. I've woken up with a bad headache a few mornings but never really connected it because i get headaches quite a lot 🤷🏼♀️ also, this will maybe not make sense, when I take it I dont really feel like I notice a difference. Everyone says it's a sudden huge difference. I never notices that. However, I can always tell when I havent had it as I cough a lot more!
I've been on it for years, absolutely no side effects, for me anyway.
I’m on the same meds as you. The only side effect for me, is weird dreams. Not sure if they were as weird before montelukast. Try it for a couple of weeks to see if it helps. It really helps me.
I have been taking it for probably at least 10 years. I have had no side effects whatsoever.
I'm on a multitude of tablets including montelukast I have been for a while I can't say I've had noticable side effects I have gained weight but not sure if it down to any other medication I'm taking.
I have been on it for a while and have none of the side effects your describing
I've been taking it for about 12 years without ill'effect.
Hi! I have taken Montalukast for years with no adverse reactions. Probably best to stop it until you can speak with your Doc. I’m sorry this isn’t working for you. It’s a good drug
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