Allergy drug Montelukast (aka Singulair) reduced alpha synuclein load in mice genetically engineered to over produce alpha synuclein

[Rhyothemis]

"The Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Montelukast Reduces Alpha-Synuclein Load and Restores Memory in an Animal Model of Dementia with Lewy Bodies" (2020)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/320...

"Treatment of cognitively deficient human alpha-synuclein overexpressing transgenic mice with Montelukast restored memory. Montelukast treatment resulted in modulation of beclin-1 expression, a marker for autophagy, and in a reduction in the human alpha-synulcein load in the transgenic mice. Reducing the protein aggregation load in neurodegenerative diseases might be a novel model of action of Montelukast. Moreover, this work presents leukotriene signaling as a potential drug target for DLB and shows that Montelukast might be a promising drug candidate for future DLB therapy development."

~

side effects of montelukast can include depression, suicidal ideation

[Smittybear7]

Thanks for sharing

[kevowpd]

side effects of montelukast can include depression, suicidal ideation

Out of the frying pan...

(But seriously, thanks for posting)

[Marimar70 in reply to kevowpd]

I've been taking this for allergies. No issues like that here.

[park_bear]

Interesting!

Free fulltext here:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/a...

They used an excellent mouse model of Lewy body dementia: " The alpha-syn mice replicate features of human synucleinopathies such as abnormal accumulation of alpha-synuclein, development of cognitive impairments, and motor deficits."

And found that the treatment improved cognition and reduced alpha synuclein.

FDA says:

fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-a...

" We continue to receive reports of mental health side effects reported with montelukast use. Consistent with our prior evaluations, a wide variety of mental health side effects have been reported, including completed suicides. Some occurred during montelukast treatment and resolved after stopping the medicine. Other reports indicated that mental health side effects developed or continued after stopping montelukast."

WebMD has got a long list of adverse effects

webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6478...

[Despe in reply to park_bear]

PB,

Again, it is an old medication, no profits will be generated. . . Don't read too much WebMD and don't trust FDA blindly.

I am giving it serious consideration. . .it appears more promising than Ambroxol.

[park_bear in reply to Despe]

Yes I know. I tried it many years ago when I had asthma.

It is true the FDA cannot be trusted - they are overly favorable toward industry and tend to under state problems. That said, as others commented below I did not experience any unfavorable side effects.

[Despe in reply to park_bear]

Thank you!

[CaseyInsights]

Firsthand report here from a 72 year old American living in Ghana on self treatment with Montelukast.

"In February 2016, after reading about Dr Ludwig Aigner's research in Austria on this drug as a treatment for Alzheimer, I started taking montelukast 10 mg twice a day. Within a week, my extreme mental fatigue disappeared and I was completely back to normal. I am now taking 10 mg three times a day. I have had no bad side effects and I also sleep much more soundly."

montelukast-repurposed.org/

The site references current trials taking place, articles and published studies.

[Despe in reply to CaseyInsights]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing this link.

Would you consider it for your partner?

[CaseyInsights in reply to Despe]

It is under active consideration. Here is my pharmaceutical list under consideration

(1) Cavinton Forte (Vinpocetine)

(2) Amantadine

(3) Terazosin

(4) Montelukast / Singulair

Will start with Cavinton Forte the weekend.

For me repurposed drugs is the immediate way forward.

P.S: Ambroxol is not on the list - too many tablets.

[Despe in reply to CaseyInsights]

I will ask our FD to prescribe it. My husband had allergies all his life and was taking CONTAC for many, many years!

[katherinecompton22]

Years ago I used to take Singulair daily for allergy symptoms - only quit (after using for 3 years) after it stopped helping. I don't recall a single side effect from it.

[Marimar70 in reply to katherinecompton22]

Same here. Atlanta has lots of pollen when the trees bloom and with the warming that can occur in the winter time you can see pollen increase and obviously in the Spring it is ridiculous.

[Goldencbc]

I’ve taken it for +15 years for allergies and asthma and have not experienced any side effects. I only take 10 mg/day.

[Despe in reply to Goldencbc]

Would you consider increasing it to three pills a day for Parkinson's symptoms?

[Goldencbc in reply to Despe]

I think I’ll ask my doctor about it.

[Hidden]

Rhyomethis , are you using it? Is anyone else trying it since this post?

Maybe better than Ambroxol?

Instead of Ambroxol not in addition to?

thank you for sharing this Rhyothemis!

And thank you Despe for telling me!

[Rhyothemis in reply to Hidden]

I'm not using it. It is interesting, but I am a little worried about the side effects. Maybe I'll try it, but there are other things I want to try first.

[Despe in reply to Hidden]

CC,

According to our pharmacist, they both (Ambroxol and Montelukast) can be taken. No contraindication.

[Hidden]

Ambroxol is combined with Montelukast in this product.

apollopharmacy.in/salt/AMBR...

[Despe in reply to Hidden]

CC, good find! Thank you for sharing. Ideal to take at least the two known meds in one tablet. I am not familiar with LEVOCETIRIZINE. Have you searched it?

[Hidden in reply to Despe]

No yet! Montelukast is said to be beneficial to the liver. 😀

[Hidden]

Montelukast is shown to protect the liver, be anti inflammatory , and an antioxidant.

karger.com/Article/Fulltext...

[Hidden]

Is anyone taking Montelukast for PD? It is being trialed in Canada

intelgenx.com/newsrooms/new...

Casey mentioned this site:

montelukast-repurposed.org/