Montelukast
Montelukast, sold under the brand name Singulair among others, is a medication used in the maintenance treatment of asthma. It is generally less preferred for this use than inhaled corticosteroids. It is not useful for acute asthma attacks. Other uses include allergic rhinitis and hives of long duration. For allergic rhinitis it is a second-line treatment.
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| Pronunciation | mon te loo' kast |
| Trade names | Singulair, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| MedlinePlus | a600014 |
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| Routes of administration | By mouth |
| Drug class | Leukotriene receptor antagonist |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | 63–73% |
| Protein binding | 99% |
| Metabolism | Liver (CYP2C8-major, CYP3A4 and CYP2C9-minor) |
| Elimination half-life | 2.7–5.5 hours |
| Excretion | Biliary |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.115.927 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C35H36ClNO3S |
| Molar mass | 586.19 g·mol−1 |
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| Melting point | 145 to 148 °C (293 to 298 °F) |
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Common side effects include abdominal pain, cough, and headache. Severe side effects may include allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis and eosinophilia. Use in pregnancy appears to be safe. Montelukast is in the leukotriene receptor antagonist family of medications. It works by blocking the action of leukotriene D4 in the lungs resulting in decreased inflammation and relaxation of smooth muscle.
Montelukast was approved for medical use in the United States in 1998. It is available as a generic medication. In 2020, it was the fourteenth most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 30 million prescriptions.