Alternatives to Montelukast

[Jaid123]

Can anyone provide suggestions as to what other asthma medicine I could ask my Dr fir instead of Montelukast? I took this for 28 days and it was awful... Terrible anxiety so I stopped. I have seasonal allergic asthma and take antihistamine plus on blue and brown inhaler. My breathing was very much improved on the Montelukast but the side effects were terrible. Appreciate any advice 💗👍

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Depending what your brown inhaler is you may benefit from a stronger preventer inhaler. A lot of the ‘brown’ inhalers are only steroids (tho some are combination inhalers). Just an idea to ask about

Hope this helps

[Jaid123 in reply to EmmaF91]

Hi Emma, many thanks for replying. The brown inhaler is Qvar 100. Don't know how strong this one is?

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Jaid123]

That’s one of the weaker inhaler options and solely a steroid inhaler. I suggest asking about trying a combination inhaler, maybe something with the same beclomethasone steroid base.

The only think to ask about is seeing if the GP is willing to try singulair. This is the branded version of montelukast but people frequently report different side effects so it may be the side effects are less for you (this of course is if you want to try it and if the GP agrees to try it).

[Jaid123 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks very much for your reply. I think I'd be too scared to try singulair in case it had same effects as montelukast... I had a month from hell on it. I will ask about combination inhaler. Thank you 💗👍

[Hidden in reply to Jaid123]

I also had terrible side effects as you describe on singulair.

[Jaid123 in reply to Hidden]

There is a face book group about this drug - it's very odd as there seems differences in how folk are reacting to it. The FDA have put a black box warning on it now though due to adverse reactions that some people have to it. 😢

[PaulRosedene]

I phoned the asthma uk nurses with exactly this question. I have also been getting side effects from Montelukast. I won't repeat their response here, because their advice may have been unique to me. I am highly atopic with rhinitis. I would recommend giving them a call.

[Jaid123 in reply to PaulRosedene]

Many thanks - I will give them a call 👍

[Pugdog]

HiI didn’t want to start Montelukast and they offered me an alternative inhaler as an add on (alongside my Flutiform everyday) called Spiriva respimat. It’s been amazing, maybe worth a discussion with your gp.

[Jaid123 in reply to Pugdog]

Many thanks - I will investigate this further with my GP 👍

[amberbrown in reply to Pugdog]

spiriva is good

[Monkeybuns]

I had the same issues with montelukast. I was on clenil (brown inhaler) and have switched to fostair (combination inhaler, same base) and I had a few teething troubles the first weeks, but I am doing really great on fostair now!

[Jaid123 in reply to Monkeybuns]

Many thanks - I will investigate this further with GP. 👍

[Dogruff]

To reassure you, I had singular a couple of years ago and had a horrendous time on it with severe nightmares and anxiety. I was started on Montelukust last summer and no issues at all! My mood did dip but that was tied in with stress at work.

[Jaid123 in reply to Dogruff]

Many thanks for your reply. Maybe your body has now adapted to it?? I am too scared to try it again as it really was a horrendous time for me. Hope you are well and keep safe. xx

[Dogruff in reply to Jaid123]

I couldn’t stay on it the first time I went on it. Don’t think I lasted even a full week. That’s why I was surprised I’ve had no issues this time round! Keeping as safe as I can. Same with you x

[amberbrown]

hi, hope you are feeling better now, had the same problem as you - singulair helped with asthma, breathing, energy, but it gave me a lot of pain in my shoulders and arms which was so painful I had to stop using it - have tried just about all of the inhalers and keep being told to change this one for that one - yet again - just going over and over the same changes, which is pointless and wasting time