Montelukast (Montek-AB) is a leukotriene (loo-koe-TRY-een) inhibitor. Leukotrienes are chemicals your body releases when you breathe in an allergen (such as pollen). These chemicals cause swelling in your lungs and tightening of the muscles around your airways, which can result in asthma symptoms.
Montelukast (Montek-AB) is used to prevent asthma attacks in adults and children as young as 12 months old. Montelukast (Montek-AB) is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm in adults and children who are at least 6 years old.
Montelukast (Montek-AB) is also used to treat symptoms of year-round (perennial) allergies in adults and children who are at least 6 months old. It is also used to treat symptoms of seasonal allergies in adults and children who are at least 2 years old.
Do not give this medicine to a child without a doctor’s advice.
Montelukast (Montek-AB) is also used to prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the air passages in the lungs) in adults and teenagers who are at least 15 years old and are not already taking this medicine for other conditions.
If you already take Montelukast (Montek-AB) to prevent asthma or allergy symptoms, do not use an extra dose to treat exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
Montelukast (Montek-AB) may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide
Prescription: Yes
Warnings: Do not stop taking this medicine of your own unless advised by your doctor. Before taking Montek AB Tablet 10's, let your doctor know if have heart, liver, kidney and lung diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders like seizures (fits) and depression, phenylketonuria (birth defect caused by the build-up of an amino acid called phenylalanine in the body), hyperthyroidism (overActive thyroid), high blood pressure, stomach ulcers and viral infections. Montek AB Tablet 10's is not intended for use during an acute asthma attack.
Medicine Interaction: If you use other drugs or over the counter products at the same time, the effects of Montek AB Tablet may change. This may increase your risk for side-effects or cause your drug not to work properly. Tell your doctor about all the drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are using, so that you doctor can help you prevent or manage drug interactions. Montek AB Tablet may interact with the following drugs and products:
Gemfibrozil
Phenobarbital
Phenytoin
Rifampin
Drug Schedule: Schedule H Prescription Drug
Side Effects: Signs of an allergic reaction to Montelukast (Montek-AB): hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
unusual changes in mood or behavior,
skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness,
ear pain, swelling, or warmth or
severe skin reaction--fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.
Common Montelukast (Montek-AB) side effects may include:
stomach pain, diarrhea,
fever or other flu symptoms,
cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, cough, sore throat,
headache or
bed-wetting or loss of bladder control in children.
How to Store it: Store at room temperature, protected from light and moisture.
Over Dose: Symptoms may include hyperActivity; severe or persistent headache; stomach pain; unusual drowsiness or restlessness; unusual thirst; vomiting.
Precautions: Before using Montek AB Tablet, inform your doctor about your current list of medications, over the counter products (e.g. vitamins, herbal supplements, etc.), allergies, pre-existing diseases, and current health conditions (e.g. pregnancy, upcoming surgery, etc.). Some health conditions may make you more susceptible to the side-effects of the drug. Take as directed by your doctor or follow the direction printed on the product insert. Dosage is based on your condition. Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens. Important counseling points are listed below.
Do not drive or operate machinery
Monitor your breathing condition during treatment
Not recommended for prevention of exercise induced bronchospasm
Not recommended in patients who are taking asthma medications
Missed Dose: In case you miss a dose, use it as soon as you notice. If it is close to the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your dosing schedule. Do not use extra dose to make up for a missed dose. If you are regularly missing doses, consider setting an alarm or asking a family member to remind you. Please consult your doctor to discuss changes in your dosing schedule or a new schedule to make up for missed doses, if you have missed too many doses recently.
