• If you have an allergy to montelukast or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• Montelukast decreases the body's production of a group of chemicals called leukotrienes that worsen asthma.
• It blocks the allergic reaction by minimizing or preventing the body's reaction to the allergen.
• If exercise causes symptoms, use at least 2 hours before activity.
• Take regularly, even during symptom-free periods.
• If this medicine is for asthma, take in the evening.
• If this medicine is for allergies, take at a similar time of day.
• Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.
• Chewable tablet: Chew or crush well. Mix crushed tablet with food. Do not swallow whole.
• Granules may be taken by mouth or mixed with applesauce, carrots, rice, or ice cream. Do not mix in liquids.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Change in behavior.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• Store in original container at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Use granules right after opening.
Created: 2005-04-07 17:01:14.0
Modified: 2010-03-09 08:28:58.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• This medicine is used to relieve allergy symptoms.
• This medicine is used to prevent exercise-induced breathing problems.
• This medicine is used to prevent or treat asthma.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• Do not use this medicine to prevent exercise-induced breathing problems if you are already using it for asthma or allergy.
• Wear disease medical alert identification.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• If you have PKU, talk with healthcare provider. Some products do contain phenylalanine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
• Flu-like symptoms. These include headache, weakness, fever, shakes, aches, pains, and sweating. Mild pain medicine may help.
• Nervous and excitable.
• Headache.
• Belly pain.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Nasal congestion.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Persistent cough.
• Increased use of short-acting inhaler.
• Numbness or tingling of hands or feet.
• Dark urine or yellow skin or eyes.
• Not able to eat.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
