Montelukast

[Mac2014acp]

Hi I am asking on behalf of my mother who doesnt have wifi and modern technology 🙂.

She was started on montelukast 2 weeks ago for a persistent cough - quite chesty in nature , she is 71 years old and had asthma since she was 40 - just wondering how long it takes for my mum to see any improvement

Thanks - any advice welcome

[twinkly29]

It could be a few more weeks as preventer medication for asthma usually takes 8-12 weeks to become fully effective (depending on the medication).

[Mac2014acp in reply to twinkly29]

Thanks that's useful to know

[Poobah]

Montelukast doesn't work for everyone but if it does you should see results after a week and full affects after a month. To achieve full effects it should be taken at night.

I take it that your mum is on a preventer inhaler already and has a reliever inhaler also? If these meds haven't been reviewed for a few years it could be that a change is necessary if symptoms are no longer controlled.

[Dilly1958]

When I started with Mont I saw a significant improvement in 7-10 days. It was a proper miracle drug for me . Am 63 yrs and have had asthma for over 60 years

[nancyminder]

It took me about six weeks for a full effect but it was a gradual improvement from two weeks.

[Boswell08]

Personally I felt improvement the very first day I took Montelukast ! But it’s probably different for everyone!

[Wheezycat]

I was put on Montelukast nearly two years ago, but I really don’t think it does anything for me. Apparently it is more likely to be helpful with people with respiratory allergies. That isn’t me. I have heard that for those it does help it often seems to give some relief pretty fast. That has never happened for me, and I am hoping to come off it. I am 71.

[Mac2014acp]

Thanks for all your replies they are really helpful , it's really difficult as my mum is not technology based and wants a review of her asthma face to face ,but the GP is only doing virtual, I think she needs a respiratory examination and listen to her chest and review her symptoms, my mum wont do this over the telephone . I work as a senior nurse in an hospital and we are doing face to face consultations ,so its difficult. I will advice she continues with montelukast but definitely needs an asthma medication review .Thanks

[Yellow75]

Not sure how quickly montelukast worked with me, but know that after a year of taking it peak flow had risen and that peak flow comes back up after exacerbation. Before I never got above 350 even when I felt I had no problems, now my best is 450.

[Dpotter]

I saw an improvement within a week. I know my asthma nurse said that if it was going to be beneficial I would notice within a few weeks. It doesn’t work for everyone.