Can anyone on Montelukast tell me if it helps?. Finally managed to see my asthma nurse today & was prescribed it alongside Fostair. I’m confused if it’s a long term thing or a short term thing?
I’m just really hoping it helps because I seem to be attached to my blue inhaler quiet a lot lately!
Most people take it long term. It helped me but some people give up because of vivid dreams. I found these faded when I'd been on it for a while.
I take both and monkelaust hasn't given me any issues. My asthma nurse said " give it two weeks it will work or not". It has haven't looked back. As for the inhaler Fostair I use the nexthaler version and it's keep me really well. Make sure you wash you mouth out after use. Stops getting oral thrush.
I would check with your doctors and the dose should be on the box. I started and take 10mg.
Yes, it works for me, but you'll only know if it's the right medication for you by giving it at least an 8 week trial. I take it you have a follow up appointment to review your progress on the new meds and to discuss any issues or need for other treatment.
There are lots of good threads on this in the archives, too, if you want more info!
Montelukast helped me initially to clear all the mucus and get back to a normal pattern. I thought it was brilliant. BUT it came with horrific side effects and after a few months of taking it, I was having full blown night terrors and hallucinations for a year. I would attack my husband every night thinking he was an evil ghost out to get me! I had to come off it and that was very hard as my body was dependent on it. I thought I absolutely needed it because if I ever forgot to take a tablet I would fill up with mucus, have dreadful breathing and be a complete mess. I didn’t realise that was caused by my drug dependency and not the missed dose!
My breathing was really bad while I was withdrawing but my doctor told me to use my inhalers to get through it and within a week I was fine. I haven’t needed Montelukast again so far. My doctor said use it until you’re feeling well and then try coming off it and see what happens. It’s always there if you need to go back on it. If no nasty side effects then it probably won’t matter if you take it long term, but do watch out for changes in your sleep and moods.
I’ve been reading about the night terrors. I already get them near enough every night as it is so I really don’t want this to make them any worse
I take Singulair, Monteklaust is the generic. There are two diff makers of Monteklaust I could buy in the chemist in Ireland, one is produced in Slovakia, one from Iceland, I didn’t notice for years. I started to wonder a few years ago when my asthma became very unstable. I noticed there are a few diff ingredients and chemist advised they are the same active ingredients but slightly diff coatings. I changed back to Singulair because a colleague recommended it + I changed inhaler. My asthma is more stable now but I can’t attribute it to changing to Singulair as I also changed inhalers. However it might be worth checking the ingredients if you have option to buy Monteklaust from diff countries to see if dreams are better on either.
I'm sure lots of people find montelukast helpful but not me I'm afraid. It also gave me terrible nightmares...many disturbed nights.I wonder what dose of fostair you are on ? If you are on the lower dose you can increase the number of puffs instead of using the ventolin (blue) inhaler until you settle again.
The nightmares are what bother me the most. I’m on 100/6 micrograms of Fostair
Just in case the montelukast doesn't suit you, but lets hope it does...talk to your doctor or asthma nurse about using your fostair as your reliever as well. It can help to settle things and then you can revert to your usual twice a day dose.
By the third night I could sleep all night and the next day I went swimming with the kids. Wonderful for me
That sounds positive! I’m just really hoping it helps!
I like Montelukast. It's been a game changer for me and no side effects to speak of. I will stay on it long term happily. It has allowed me to keep my beloved rescue dog who I'm allergic too. It does give me slightly crazy dreams occasionally if I'm honest but hey hi no contest I'd it means I can keep my pooch xx
I find it helps a lot. You’ll know within a couple of weeks if it is. Do persevere with it though, I had some terrible vivid dreams/side effects at first and nearly stopped taking it but they soon subsided. Hope it works for you too.
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