Hi Everyone,
I hope you are all well and I wish you all a belated, Happy New Year.
I wanted to ask anyone who is taking Montelukast, what time they take theirs?
My respiratory consultant, and the box they come in both say to take at night, but I was wondering at what time others take this and whether I can take it on an empty stomach?
Thank you in advance for your kind help,
Best Wishes and keep well,
Matthew
I take mine 9pm or later (I have an alarm set for 9pm, but often don't take them until I go to bed which may be much later). That will normally be a reasonable time after last eating.
Thank you so much for your kind repy, I really appreciate that. I have been taking it after my evening meal, but I think taking it on top of all that food it can lessen its effectiveness perhaps. I'll go for 9pm, thank you for your advice.
I believe the chewable Montelukast tablets have to be taken an hour before or 2 hours after food. But the film covered tablet can be taken either with or without food. I have the film covered tablets and take them around 9pm.
I've started taking mine mid afternoon to avoid exceptionally vivid dreams/nightmares
I take mine (non chewy sort) just before I go to bed as it helps me to remember to have them. They have worked brilliantly for me.
I take mine around 9pm and can be taken with or without food.
I take quite a number of meds throughout the day and I don't always get the timing right!
I aim to take it early evening along with my Diltiazem, Apixaban and Carbosisteine - usually about 7.00pm. I sometimes take it before my meal and occasionally after. Sometimes I get to bed time, open my pill box and find all my evening meds still sitting there, so I take them all together with my bedtime meds, except that I miss one dose of carbosisteine then as don't want to double up.
TBH it doesn't seem to make any difference. I don't have the vivid dreams that some people get from it and have been taking it for years. I can't say it makes a difference as I haven't tried leaving it off and wouldn't do so without speaking to my consultant first. I do still get a coughing fit in the night at times and need my inhaler to calm it down but this is rare.
I hadn't heard of the chewy ones that you have to take on an empty stomach. I have enough trouble trying to take others on an empty stomach as my stomach is rarely empty! I find I've been offered a biscuit and accepted it before remembering my meds - or I've eaten some fruit or chocolate as a snack and then think, 'Oh no!' So I would be avoiding the chewy ones, personally.
Regarding taking Montelukast on an empty stomach, I have stomach issues anyway so already take Lansoprazole, Famotidine and Gaviscon so I can't really say whether taking it on an empty stomach upsets me or not.
I'm not sure I've been very helpful here! Hope you find out what works best for you.
xx Moy
Hi. I’ve been on Montelukast for years (since it first became available). I always take at night and doesn’t affect my stomach even when empty.
Hi dontdon take them at all they mess with your headIhead started getting Death thoughts and thatsthat not me and when I mentioned it to my consultant she said stop taking them they dontdon do much anyway and not long after I stopped taking them the death thoughts went away
Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience GobbyPunk. Obviously this is definitely not the right medication for you. I'm glad you're doing better now you've stopped it.
For anyone else reading though, I do want to say that not everyone has such a bad experience with montelukast and it can be helpful for some people. Experiences with medication are individual, so something that doesn't help or has massive side effects for someone else could still be a really helpful medication for you, and also the other way round.
I know even some doctors (including my consultant) can get sucked into 'this medication is good, this one is not' but I've found it's not that clear cut. I take montelukast with no issues and some benefit. I also take another 'Marmite' medication, theophylline, that many doctors don't like because it causes major side effects in some people and doesn't always work - but I don't get side effects and it works for me. I would never suggest anyone take or not take any medication as I'm not their doctor, but I would say to keep an open mind.
Either way you should be guided by medical advice - don't just stop taking a medication because you read about someone else's bad experience. If you are having issues with side effects then discuss with a healthcare professional - especially as they may be able to suggest an alternative. (I know you did discuss this with your consultant GobbyPunk so not saying this for you, just for others reading who may be alarmed.)
Oh and MattPhillips78, to answer your original question, I take mine in the evening, usually around 10pm. I take theophylline and Fostair twice a day and have to space them out evenly, and that time works best for me. I do get vivid dreams but I always did anyway so not noticed much difference!
I follow the instructions and take them PM, usually about 8 o'clock when digesting supper.
Thank you so much everyone for your very kind replies and advice, it's a huge help. Best Wishes, Matt
I take mine at bedtime
I take mine just as I get into bed with all my other night meds. Just with cup of water. Not usually with food but as far as I know nothing saying can’t have food
hi I take mine at night before I go to bed
Hi, MattPhillips78!
I take mine around 9:00 PM as I'm preparing for bed.
no stomach issues, and I don't eat after 6:00 PM.
And to go against the grain, I take mine in the morning, probably at about 8:00am, on an empty stomach.
That’s just because I take a number of other medications in the evening, so with the Consultants permission I chose the morning. With no negative issues, I’m pleased to say! 🤷♀️
I take mine at bedtime, which is about 9pm. I think they have a slight sedative effect, that’s why they say take them at night
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