Trial of Montelukast

[Maynan17]

I am currently on Fostair inhaler for adult asthma that has laid dormant for years since childhood.

I have suffering terribly for a long time with constant phlegm , having to clear my throat, coughing and affecting my sleep in as much as choking. It’s embarrassing at work and also home life.

Thought it was all connected with my underactive thyroid but GP says could be allergy related , non allergy , diet , post nasal drip but may also be an unknown cause .

Dr has prescribed a months trial of Montelukast and if I benefit from taking them have been told I can take long term as if I stop the phlegm it will only return.

Just wondering if anyone else here is/has been on this drug long term and would you recommend it or not. Loathed to take any more tablets than I’m already on but equally do not want to continue to suffer on a daily basis.

TIA

[andy121]

I’ve been on montelukast for about 4 years now I think it’s great, though some people complain about the side effects that come with it but I luckily didn’t get any, everyone is different, So worth a try, stick with it as you need to keep taking them to get the benefit and hopefully it will work well for you too.

Also if it is allergy try antihistamines as well if you don’t already. I’m on loratadine and most recently Fexofenadine. I no longer get the symptoms like you’re getting now.

Good luck

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

It can really be individual as Andy says - works well for some, does nothing for others. Some people get side effects others don't. If it affects your sleep some people switch to taking it in the morning.

You will probably see things online about dramatic side effects, but many of those were from children on too high a dose. I'm not saying they can never happen to adults but it is worth trying for yourself as many people are fine with it (me included - been on it for 13 years!)

Hope this helps and things start to improve soon.

[Singinglouder]

Hi! You ask about long term use - I’m coming up to 23 years this summer - still works, still no side effects. As the others say, people vary, but it’s worth a try.

[Cloudancer in reply to Singinglouder]

Agreed have been on it for 18 years works for me.Best of luck let us know how you get on x

[Mons]

I’ve been on Montelukast for just over a month. I’ve had no side effects at all and it’s definitely helped me alongside Fostair 200/6.

[Poppy81]

Hi, I’ve been on it 7 months, so not long term. Was nervous taking it, but for me it has been a game changer. No side effects, got my asthma under control. Really helps with my hayfever symptoms too.

[Blue-Breeze]

I had side effects from the adult dose so stopped it. This was before seeing my tertiary consultant. My consultant has put me on a pediatric dose in the morning, evening still gave me nightmares/weird dreams.

This is proving much better. I do react to medication, so I'm pleased he understood me and made this change.

Worth a try and we are all different.

[Cherwin in reply to Blue-Breeze]

Sorry can you clarify when and what dose you take the Montelukast.

[Blue-Breeze in reply to Cherwin]

The pediatric dose is 5mg chewable tablets. Age range is for children 6 to 14 years. I take mine in the morning, because as explained evening was still causing problems.We did a trial stop to make sure it was this and the weird dreams settled after awhile. Majority of people here have little or no problems, I just am one of those that did.

Hope this clarifies better Cherwin?

[Cherwin in reply to Blue-Breeze]

Thanks for reply , I did try one dose a few years ago and had the darkest of dreams really frightening so I stopped. Maybe I should have persevered as I now cannot remove the mucous collected in my lungs, but I was shaken so much.

[Waffle3]

hi my son was put on it and had bad psychogenic side effects. He was 12 and known to have anxiety and really he never should’ve been put on it . In US they were much more wary with kids. Think this seems to affect children more from what I have read . It also affected his sleep . I guess like any medication people respond differently. Wishing you well and hope it works for you

[Horsemadfamily]

HiI've been taking Montelukast and 360mg of Fexofenadine for about 6 months. At first it seemed to really help with my allergic asthma but the benefits have gradually worn off. I've had absolutely no side effects. Hope it works for you.

[Gareth57]

Hi, I feel your pain as I also had a long spell of being asthma free (25-30 years!), I'm now on Fostair and Montelukast which I've been on for about 8 months and so far is working well, I tend to get seasonal allergies and so far I've been ok.

As for side effects,I did get some weird dreams so tried taking the tablets in the morning rather than evening which has helped. You have nothing to loose by trying and a lot to gain if they work.

[Moosarelli]

I had a very similar issue last summer that went on for a few months. GP arranged a visit from Respiratory Nurse who changed my pump from Fostair to Trimbow and also added Montelukast to my regime. It did the trick for me and my asthma has been controlled since. I had no side effects from either the Trimbow or Montelukast.

[SuziElley]

I’m also on a month trial at the moment but my daughter has taken it for ages now and wouldn’t be without it.

[runcyclexcski]

I have severe allergic asthma (cannot leave my HEPA chamber without a mask during the spring), and montelucast has never done anything for me, so after 2 years I stopped it b.c. I did not want to take a pill "just because" (I have enough pills as is already). Thus, it appears to be indidividual.

[Kekememe1 in reply to runcyclexcski]

It hasn't done anything for me either. Been on it for many many years. I think it doesn't work for people with allergic asthma. It might work for other kinds of asthma.

[Chip_y2kuk]

I took it for a long time, didn't get on well with taking it of a night it made me slightly warmer and very vivid dreams... I was exhausted after a few weeks.... but swapped to a morning ... it was when I went to the asthma clinic I asked could I stop it *as a trial* they agreed because like me they didn't think it was doing anything.. I stopped it and never noticed a difference

I will say if your issue is phlem... carbocistine.. may be a better choice... its only purpose in life is to thin and help get rid of mucus..its not normally used for "asthma"... but many of us are on it

[Bagpiper0304]

I've been using it for a few years now and no side effects, if you are getting a lot of phlegm, try a short course of antibiotics as it could be inflammation in the chest, i get this occasionally and it usually clears fairly quickly with antiobitics.

[peege]

It could be something other than asthma, I developed Small Airways Disease a few years after asthma taking a big down turn in my 50s. It was diagnosed after several years of constant lung infections and several pneumonia. Not saying that you do have anything (I'm not a doctor) just a possibility. I've taken montelukast for 10+ years now & haven't noticed any side effects. I also take Carbocysteine which softens the small amount of lung mucus making it easier to expel in the mornings, I also take half an antihistamine during summer (off my own bat). Montelukast tablets are tiny so not too much of a hardship.

Good luck with your trial. P

[HowNowWhatNow]

It has a high rate of side effects relating to sleep. I was told 1 in 8 have nightmares from taking it.

My daughter had extreme side effects on it - she woke up crying, rigid with distress and fear - and so we tried it for quite a few months, but then had to abandon.

That does leave 7 in 8…