Has anyone else suffered a reaction to montelukast? I’ve taken it for the first time for the past 3 nights. First night had tummy ache, second night sharp tummy pains and on off loo several times - last night severe pains that left me on floor, vomiting etc.
I’m terrified I’m running out of options to get control as I reacted badly to prednisone as well. I’ve not had a referral through gp yet and not sure if they will - I just wondered what else people had tried.
Thank you in advance x
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Emzcat41
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That sounds really awful for you! With symptoms so severe, you must speak to your doctor today or ring 111 straight away - it might not be from the Montelukast and if it is you need advice. Good luck - do get help soon.
I’m also struggling to get my gp to refer me - he just keeps adding new medications- I’m now on Fostair 200/6, Montelukast, Braltus (about to move over on to Spiriva ), Uniphyllin and good old Ventolin! All of them with unpleasant side effects- but at least I’m still breathing!
You really should push for a referral if you’re on those and still not controlled. You need specialist care not general (which is what a GP is). Have you taken the AUK severe asthma quiz thing that’s just come out? That could be used as evidence for referral need as your GP will definitely not be able to prescribe mabs etc. Again you could use ‘poor response to meds’ as a reason to refer too (page 6 brit-thoracic.org.uk/docume... ) on the old stepwise/new management chart (page 12) you are now under specialist therapies which says you need referral too.
If needs be you can be blunt; “it’s my life on the line (literally) - poor asthma care from medics/docs not referring when they should can be linked to 2/3 of asthma deaths. That’s 2 people a day. I don’t want to become one of them just because you don’t want to say I’m passed your level of expertise’. It sucks but it’s accurate.
Agree also the work thing - they will have to take it seriously then. Can you see a different GP? Or write to practice manager saying GP won't refer and referral should happen at this point (plus Emma's life on the line stuff!) It's rubbish but if we don't sometimes push it won't happen.
Not me personally but I do know someone with a montelukast allergy/intolerance who had the same issue. Stop it now and contact your GP to tell them what’s happened and that you’ve stopped it.
Maybe you’ll be able to ask about a referral due to your issues with both Monte and pred (assuming the reaction is worse than ‘normal’ that everyone else gets). That could be classed under ‘poor response to med treatment’ as the reason to refer, esp as a local hosp has more drugs available for you to try, and may be able to come up with
I had an allergic reaction to Montelukast: stuffy nose, throat swelling, difficulty breathing. It wasn't very severe, but it took awhile to go away. Prednisone does nothing for me.
It's so annoying when you have a reaction like that. I have found Montelukast to be amazing for allowing me a symptom free sleep. BUT! I do suffer from irritable bowel syndrome on and off, so after the Montelukast started giving me diarrhoea my GP put me back on Mebeverine(an anti spasmodic) which stopped the cramps and trips to the loo. Apart from that, & weird dreams, I am lucky that the Montelukast seems to suit me. Hope you get sorted out soon. Take care.
Sounds like you really should be under consultant care. If you are on a lot of medication and still symptomatic you need tests to find out what type of asthma you have so that you are on the best medications to treat it. Do the asthma UK severe asthma quiz and push for a referral.
When I first started taking it I did feel sick for 3/4 days and had really bad indigestion (could have also been a reaction to something else but i just put it down to the medication) but it soon passed as my body got used to taking it. It doesn’t sound as awful as your reaction though! Hope you feel better soon and get it sorted!!
I had those reactions (but not near as severe) as well as asthma symptoms coming back when I took the generic of Montelukast but when I switched to the brand version, Singulair, they went away. Only problem is the expense for the brand. I am so glad you have been referred in the right direction.
I've been on it for about 4 years and had no problems in that department, though my son has been on it for a few years and has terrible ibs symptoms, maybe it's something I need to look into.
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