Offered montelukast

[Watercolour12]

Hi there! I'm new here and not sure why I haven't thought to join this before. I've been struggling with my asthma for some time now and have just been offered montelukast because I've not settled after almost 3 weeks of max. Inhalers and a course of steroids. I was just wondering if anyone has experience of taking montelukast? Quite scared to take it because of the potential side effects! I'm finally seeing respiratory for my tricky asthma in December.

[andy121]

Hi, I been taking Montelukast for about 5 years now and have been a life changer, I’ve not had any of the side effects either. Try not to worry about the side effects to much as like you say they are scary but not everyone gets them as we are all different. Give it a few weeks to kick in see how you go. Hopefully you will get the benefits as I and many others on here do.

Good luck let us know how you get on.

[Watercolour12 in reply to andy121]

Thank you for this, glad it's worked for you

[Patk1]

Hiya and welcome to the forum.ive been on montelukast with no side effects, for years.its been a game changer for my young grandson

[Watercolour12 in reply to Patk1]

Good to hear, thank you

[Jayarc]

I haven't been prescribed it but someone was telling me just the other day how effective it had been for their son.

[Watercolour12 in reply to Jayarc]

Thanks for replying

[Waffle3]

as an alternative view my 12 year old son had really bad neuropsychiatric and really poor sleep side effects . Recommended not to give children with anxiety . That is now much more enforced as it was in the US but unfortunately not when my son was prescribed. Symbicort has helped my son hugely . Everyone reacts differently but my (now 15 years old ) son is still traumatised by his experience of montelukast

[Watercolour12 in reply to Waffle3]

Oh gosh sorry to hear that! Thank you for sharing.

[Birthday60 in reply to Watercolour12]

Young boys are more likely to have psychotic experiences- the main story line in Nine Perfect Strangers by Lianne Moriarty!!

[Walking4eva22]

Hi have been on montelukast for many years take it at night it gives me a few side effects like stomach cramps and strange dreams but does help my asthma

[Watercolour12 in reply to Walking4eva22]

Ah those sound tricky but good to hear it does help you

[peege]

Hi, I'm very glad you're seeing a consultant soon. I've taken montelukast for about 10 years with no side effects whatsoever. I take the 10mg tiny tablet about 8pm just after supper.

[Watercolour12 in reply to peege]

That's reassuring to hear, thanks for sharing

[Troilus]

Hi Watercolour. I take it with no side effects.

[Watercolour12 in reply to Troilus]

Good to know thanks!!

[Balls01]

Hi, I took it for years no side effects other than it helped!

[Watercolour12 in reply to Balls01]

That's good, thanks for sharing

[RICKBROWN123]

Never had side effects but found it worked too well for me and i would dry out so bad I’d end up with an upper respiratory infection. Doc would like me on it every night with Claritin in the AM but i get ill every time. Going to discuss cutting it and trying

[Watercolour12 in reply to RICKBROWN123]

Thanks for sharing, I hope you can find the right balance!

[Ollie1976]

My 7 yo is on it and zero side-effects. He has cough variant asthma but it still works fine. Also on Serotide. We especially see the benefits in summer when pollen can make his asthma worse: we tried a trial of no Monteklaust and his asthmatic cough returned within a week. Put him back on it: cough gone within 3 days.

[Watercolour12 in reply to Ollie1976]

Ahh interesting good it's helping him and thanks for replying

[LHP118]

I've been taking Montelukast for about 5 years. It has made the difference for my acute symptoms to be more manageable. I had none of the side effects.

Like you, I acknowledged the potential symptoms, and used these as a reference point versus the improvements. That's what you have to do - try it whilst knowing the pros and cons and keeping an eye on it as you do.

Making an informed decision, makes all the difference.

[Watercolour12 in reply to LHP118]

This is helpful, thanks so much for replying

[Sicily17]

Hi I’ve taken Montulakast for the last 5-6 years it’s helped me so much with my asthma & I’ve had no side effects with it at all but everyone’s different !! I’d try it it see how you feel

Good luck !!

[Watercolour12 in reply to Sicily17]

Phew good to know, thanks for sharing your experience

[zobobear]

Hi. I’ve been on for 2 years for CVA Some vivid dreams but all good.

[Watercolour12 in reply to zobobear]

Thanks for replying

[Kniterbug]

Hi. I’ve been on montelukastfor a few years only take at night I have another antihistamine that I take daily too. I’m on Nucala now for 4 months now and I’m doing lot better now

[Watercolour12 in reply to Kniterbug]

Ah that's good to know. Sounds like a lot of people have been finding antihistamines helpful. Thanks for sharing

[Headoverheels]

I've been on Montelukast, every night for 6 years. No problems whatsoever.

[Watercolour12 in reply to Headoverheels]

Thanks for sharing, good to know

[Chip_y2kuk]

I took montelukast for ages, don't think it did anything and stopped talking it about 18 months ago

I didn't get on well with it of a night so I swapped to a morning (it made me warmer and I had terrible night mares, resulting in being knackered)

But I lso take high doses of fexofenadine and me and the doctor agreed I was probably getting decent coverage from the fexo so the montelukast was "surplus to requirements" ... I stopped taking it and didn't notice any difference so we where right.

Hope it works out well for you

Chip

[Watercolour12 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

This is useful to know, thanks so much for replying. Hope you're okay

[T1ggy]

Unfortunately Montelukast didn't work for me but I didn't have any side effects. It does seem to benefit lots of people though so worth a try.

[Watercolour12 in reply to T1ggy]

Thanks for your input

[Shadowcat04]

I have taken montelukast for several years also with no side effects I actually don’t know if it helps, but my adult onset asthma is so severe that my asthma doctor says I absolutely need this. I say give it a try. 😊

[Watercolour12 in reply to Shadowcat04]

Aw hope you're doing okay! Thanks for replying

[LHP118 in reply to Shadowcat04]

After a year of Montelukast, I thought I'd do a self-assessment by stopping it to see whether I had any issues. I did the same (entirely separated by time of a few weeks) with my antihistamines.

I realised my symptoms worsened considerably and that the combination of my preventer inhaler (which also makes a BIG positive impact), the Montelukast and antihistamines minimises and almost removes the need for my reliever inhaler on the odd infrequent occasion... which is when one knows that their asthma is being managed!

Having managed asthma is a good sign indeed.

[Acapulco1]

I’ve been taking montelukast for several years with no adverse effects.

[Poshcards]

I have been taking it for about a year now and am fine, it has helped my nuisance cough no end, I would say give it a go x

[Beefull8]

Hi. I’ve been taking it for five years too and no side effects. I also haven’t knock on wood, needed a rescue inhaler since. It’s the only thing I am on for asthma and previously was on a gallon size bag of inhalers.

[CharlieLondon]

Hi i tried it for a month and didn't help, i had nightmares on it too, my asthma declined more and i went on biologics - benralizumab, this helped me so much and i've been off prednisolone for nearly a year now

[Whizzymaz]

Hi, I’ve been taking Monteleukast since not very long after it became available. It has been a game changer for me. Had a few strange dreams and dry mouth at first but I find it helps if I take it a bit earlier in the evening. wouldn’t be without it now. Good luck in your journey.

[Logo132]

Hi I’ve been on it about a month. No side effects and many positive benefits.

[Loveducks]

Hi, I can understand why you are concerned and it is good you have read up on it. Years ago I was one of those that didn't read the side effects and just always remained positive that meds would work for me. However, I had to be yellow card on Montelukast and it was stopped immediately. Everyone is different, we all react differently to medications as others have said it's been a game changer taking it for them, so I will just say, you know what to look out for and if you feel a change in the way you feel speak immediately to a GP or Consultant, don't ignore it or ask other family members to keep an eye on you that they don't notice any changes and this will keep you safe. Again, you may not have the side effects like I did, for many they are happy taking it. Good luck x