Patient Information 9628414
SINGULAIR® (SING-u-lair) Tablets, Chewable Tablets, and Oral Granules
Generic name: montelukast (mon-te-LOO-kast) sodium
Read this information before you start taking treatment of exercise-induced asthma. seizures (convulsions or fits)
SINGULAIR®. Also, read the leaflet you get each time • Do not take an additional dose of SINGULAIR • palpitations
you refill SINGULAIR, since there may be new information within 24 hours of a previous dose. • nose bleed
in the leaflet since the last time you saw it. This leaflet does not take the place of talking with your doctor For adults and children
2 years of age and older • diarrhea, indigestion, inflammation of the about your medical condition and/or your treatment. with seasonal allergic rhinitis, or for adults and pancreas, nausea, vomiting children
6 months of age and older with perennial • hepatitis What is SINGULAIR* allergic rhinitis: • bruising • joint pain, muscle aches and muscle cramps
• SINGULAIR is a medicine called a leukotriene • Take SINGULAIR once a day, at about the same • swelling
receptor antagonist. It works by blocking time each day. substances in the body called leukotrienes. • Take SINGULAIR every day for as long as your Rarely, asthmatic patients taking SINGULAIR have Blocking leukotrienes improves asthma and allergic doctor prescribes it. experienced a condition that includes certain rhinitis. SINGULAIR is not a steroid. Studies have • You may take SINGULAIR with food or without food. symptoms that do not go away or that get worse. sho wn that SINGULAIR does not affect the growth These occur usually, but not al ways, in patients who rate of children. (See the end of this leaflet for more How should I give SINGULAIR oral granules to my child? were taking steroid pills by mouth for asthma and information about asthma and allergic rhinitis.) Do not open the packet until ready to use. those steroids were being slowly lowered or stopped. Although SINGULAIR has not been shown to cause
SINGULAIR is prescribed for the treatment of asthma, SINGULAIR 4-mg oral granules can be given: this condition, you must tell your doctor right away if
the prevention of exercise-induced asthma, and • directly in the mouth; you get one or more of these symptoms:
allergic rhinitis: • dissolved in 1 teaspoonful ( 5 mL) of cold or room • a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of
1. Asthma. temperature baby formula or breast milk; arms or legs SINGULAIR should be used for the long-term • mixed with a spoonful of one of the following soft • a flu-like illness management of asthma in adults and children foods at cold or room temperature: applesauce, • rash ages
12 months and older. mashed carrots, rice, or ice cream. • severe inflammation (pain and swelling) of the Be sure that the entire dose is mixed with the food, sinuses (sinusitis)
Do not take SINGULAIR for the immediate relief baby formula, or breast milk and that the child is of an asthma attack. If you get an asthma attack, given the entire spoonful of the food, baby formula, or These are not all the possible side effects of SINGULAIR. you should follo w the instructions your doctor breast milk mixture right away (within
15 minutes). For more information ask your doctor or pharmacist.
gave you for treating asthma attacks. IMPOR TAN T: Never store any oral granules mixed Talk to your doctor if you think you have side effects
2. Prevention of exercise-induced asthma. with food, baby formula, or breast milk for use at a from taking SINGULAIR.
SINGULAIR is used for the prevention of exercise- later time. Throw away any unused portion. General Information about the safe and effective use
induced asthma in patients 15 years of age and older. Do not put SINGULAIR oral granules in any of SINGULAIR
3. Allergic Rhinitis. liquid drink other than baby formula or breast Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions
SINGULAIR is used to help control the symptoms milk. However, your child may drink liquids after that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets.
of allergic rhinitis (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny s wallo wing the SINGULAIR oral granules. Do not use SINGULAIR for a condition for which it
nose, itching of the nose). SINGULAIR is used to treat seasonal allergic rhinitis (outdoor allergies What is the dose of SINGULAIR? was not prescribed. Do not give SINGULAIR to other people even if they have the same symptoms you
that happen part of the year) in adults and children For asthma—Take once daily in the evening: have. It may harm them. Keep SINGULAIR and all
ages 2 years and older, and perennial allergic • One 10-mg tablet for adults and adolescents medicines out of the reach of children.
rhinitis (indoor allergies that happen all year) in
15 years of age and older, adults and children ages
6 months and older. • One 5-mg che wable tablet for children
6 to Store SINGULAIR at
25˚C ( 77˚F). Protect from moisture Who should not take SINGULAIR?
14 years of age, and light. Store in original package. • One 4-mg che wable tablet or one packet of 4-mg This leaflet summarizes information about
Do not take SINGULAIR if you are allergic to SINGULAIR oral granules for children 2 to 5 years of age, or SINGULAIR. If you would like more information, talk
or any of its ingredients. • One packet of 4-mg oral granules for children to your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor
The active ingredient in SINGULAIR is montelukast 12 to 23 months of age. for information about SINGULAIR that is written for sodium. For exercise-induced asthma—Take at least
2 hours health professionals.
See the end of this leaflet for a list of all the ingredients before exercise, but not more than once daily: What are the ingredients in SINGULAIR? in SINGULAIR. • One 10-mg tablet for adults and adolescents 15 years of age and older Active ingredient: montelukast sodium
What should I tell my doctor before I start taking SINGULAIR? For allergic rhinitis—Take once daily at about the SINGULAIR chewable tablets contain aspartame, same time each day: a source of phenylalanine. Tell your doctor about: • One 10-mg tablet for adults and adolescents Phenylketonurics: SINGULAIR 4-mg and 5-mg • Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or plan to become
15 years of age and older, chewable tablets contain 0.674 and 0.842 mg pregnant, SINGULAIR may not be right for you. • One 5-mg che wable tablet for children
6 to phenylalanine, respectively.
• Breast-feeding: If you are breast-feeding, 14 years of age, Inactive ingredients:
SINGULAIR may be passed in your milk to your • One 4-mg che wable tablet for children 2 to • 4-mg oral granules: mannitol, hydroxypropyl
baby. You should consult your doctor before 5 years of age, or cellulose, and magnesium stearate.
taking SINGULAIR if you are breast-feeding or • One packet of 4-mg oral granules for children • 4-mg and 5-mg che wable tablets: mannitol,
intend to breast-feed. 2 to 5 years of age with seasonal allergic rhinitis, microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropyl
• Medical Problems or Allergies: Talk about any or for children 6 months to 5 years of age with cellulose, red ferric oxide, croscarmellose
medical problems or allergies you have now or perennial allergic rhinitis. sodium, cherry flavor, aspartame, and
had in the past. • Other Medicines: Tell your doctor about all What should I avoid while taking SINGULAIR? magnesium stearate. • 10-mg tablet: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose
the medicines you take, including prescription If you have asthma and if your asthma is made monohydrate, croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl
and non-prescription medicines, and herbal worse by aspirin, continue to avoid aspirin or other cellulose, magnesium stearate, hydroxypropyl
supplements. Some medicines may affect ho w medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory methylcellulose, titanium dioxide, red ferric
SINGULAIR works, or SINGULAIR may affect drugs while taking SINGULAIR. oxide, yellow ferric oxide, and carnauba wax.
ho w your other medicines work. What are the possible side effects of SINGULAIR? What is asthma?
Ho w should I take SINGULAIR? The side effects of SINGULAIR are usually mild, and Asthma is a continuing (chronic) inflammation of the
For adults and children 12 months of age and older generally did not cause patients to stop taking their bronchial passageways which are the tubes that carry
with asthma: medicine. The side effects in patients treated with air from outside the body to the lungs.
• Take SINGULAIR once a day in the evening. SINGULAIR were similar in type and frequency to side • Take SINGULAIR every day for as long as your effects in patients who were given a placebo (a pill Symptoms of asthma include: doctor prescribes it, even if you have no asthma containing no medicine). • coughing symptoms. • wheezing • You may take SINGULAIR with food or without food. The most common side effects with SINGULAIR • chest tightness • If your asthma symptoms get worse, or if you include: • shortness of breath need to increase the use of your inhaled rescue • stomach pain medicine for asthma attacks, call your doctor • stomach or intestinal upset What is exercise-induced asthma? right away. • heartburn Exercise-induced asthma, more accurately called • Do not take SINGULAIR for the immediate relief • tiredness exercise-induced bronchoconstriction occurs when of an asthma attack. If you get an asthma attack, • fever exercise triggers symptoms of asthma. you should follo w the instructions your doctor • stuffy nose gave you for treating asthma attacks. • cough What is allergic rhinitis? • Al ways have your inhaled rescue medicine for • flu • Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also kno wn as hay fever, asthma attacks with you. • upper respiratory infection is triggered by outdoor allergens such as pollens • Do not stop taking or lo wer the dose of your other • dizziness from trees, grasses, and weeds. asthma medicines unless your doctor tells you to. • headache • Perennial allergic rhinitis may occur year-round and • rash is generally triggered by indoor allergens such as
For patients 15 years of age and older for the prevention of exercise-induced asthma: Less common side effects that have happened with dust mites, animal dander, and/or mold spores. • Take SINGULAIR at least
2 hours before exercise. SINGULAIR include: • Symptoms of allergic rhinitis may include: • Al ways have your inhaled rescue medicine for • increased bleeding tendency • stuffy, runny, and/or itchy nose asthma attacks with you. • allergic reactions [including swelling of the face, lips, • sneezing • If you are taking SINGULAIR daily for chronic tongue, and/or throat (which may cause trouble asthma or allergic rhinitis, do not take an breathing or swallo wing), hives and itching] Rx only additional dose to prevent exercise-induced • behavior and mood related changes [agitation US Patent No.:
5,565,473 asthma. Speak to your doctor about your including aggressive behavior, bad/vivid dreams, depression, feeling anxious, hallucinations
(seeing things that are not there), irritability,
* Registered trademark of MERCK & CO., Inc. restlessness, suicidal thoughts and actions
COPYRIGH T © 1998-2007 MERCK & CO., Inc. (including suicide), tremor, trouble sleeping]
All rights reserved • drowsiness, pins and needles/numbness,
Issued July 2008
Distributed by:
MERCK & CO., INC.
Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889, USA
20852262( 6)(414)-SNG-CON