Montelukast Viatris (Montelukast)

Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information

Prescription Required

Quick Facts

Generic Name

Montelukast

Drug Class

Leukotriene receptor antagonist

Used For

Preventing asthma symptoms and treating seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever)

How Taken

Oral tablets taken once daily, preferably at bedtime for asthma

What Is Montelukast Viatris Used For?

Montelukast Viatris is a preventive medication that helps control asthma and treats seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms. It can be used in children 2 years and older, teenagers, and adults.

Primary Uses

Montelukast Viatris prevents asthma symptoms that occur during the day and at night, prevents exercise-induced airway narrowing, and treats seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms including stuffy, runny, itchy nose, sneezing, and watery, swollen, red, itchy eyes. It can be used alone or with other preventive medicines like inhaled corticosteroids.

How It Works

Montelukast blocks substances in your lungs called leukotrienes that cause narrowing and swelling of airways. By blocking leukotrienes, it improves asthma symptoms, helps prevent asthma attacks, and reduces seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms.

Good to know: Montelukast is not addictive and does not affect children’s growth rate when used as prescribed.

How to Take Montelukast Viatris

Take Montelukast Viatris exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The timing depends on your condition – for asthma, take at bedtime; for seasonal allergic rhinitis, take as directed by your doctor.

Dosage Instructions

Adults and teenagers 15 years and older: one 10 mg tablet daily. Children 6-14 years: one 5 mg chewable tablet daily. Children 2-5 years: one 4 mg chewable tablet daily. Swallow 10 mg tablets with water. Chew the 5 mg or 4 mg tablets thoroughly – do not swallow whole. Can be taken with or without food.

What If You Miss a Dose?

Skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.

Important: Never substitute different tablet strengths – they are absorbed differently in the body and may not have the same effect.

Available Tablet Strengths

10mg

10mg Tablet Beige, Rounded square • M10 on one side, plain on other

5mg

5mg Tablet Pink mottled, Round • M5 on one side, plain on other

4mg

4mg Tablet Pink mottled, Oval • M4 on one side, plain on other

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

Fluid retention
Nose bleed
Headache, dizziness, drowsiness
Feeling unusually weak or tired
Upper respiratory tract infection
Bed-wetting in children
Muscle aches or cramps, joint pain
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Decreased feeling or sensitivity in skin
Pins and needles/numbness

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

Suicidal thoughts and actions
Skin rash or itchiness
Increased tendency to bleed, bruising
Fast or irregular heart-beats (palpitations)
Swelling of the lungs
Liver disease symptoms (nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, yellowing of skin and eyes, dark urine)
Swelling of face, lips, mouth, throat or tongue causing difficulty breathing or swallowing
Severe skin reactions, hives
Seizures

Behavioral and Mood-Related Changes

Tell your doctor if you notice agitation, aggressive behavior, hostility, anxiousness, depression, disorientation, dream abnormalities, hallucinations, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, sleep walking, stuttering, tremors, attention disturbance, memory impairment, uncontrolled muscle movements, or obsessive compulsive symptoms.

Important Warnings

Before taking Montelukast Viatris, inform your doctor about all medical conditions and medications you’re taking.

Who Should Not Take Montelukast Viatris

Do not take if you are allergic to montelukast or any ingredients in the tablets, if the packaging is damaged, or if the expiry date has passed. Not recommended for children under 2 years of age.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if your child has phenylketonuria (5 mg and 4 mg chewable tablets contain aspartame), if you have any allergies to medicines or other substances, or if you have any other medical conditions.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Montelukast has not been studied in pregnant women. It is unknown if montelukast passes into breast milk. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Behavioral Changes Warning: All thoughts of suicide must be taken seriously. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience behavior and mood-related changes, including suicidal thoughts, while taking Montelukast Viatris.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may affect how Montelukast Viatris works, or Montelukast Viatris may affect how your other medicines work.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medications
Include medicines bought from pharmacy, supermarket, or health food shop

Alcohol & Driving

The source does not provide specific information about alcohol consumption or driving precautions with Montelukast Viatris.

Storage

Keep tablets in the blister pack until ready to take them. Store in a cool, dry place away from light where temperature stays below 25°C. Do not store in bathroom or near sink. Keep away from heat and dampness. Store where children cannot reach – a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground is recommended.

Overdose Information

If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Montelukast Viatris, immediately call your doctor or Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for advice, even if there are no signs of discomfort. Common overdose symptoms in adults and children include thirst, sleepiness, dilated pupils, hyperactivity, and stomach pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

The source doesn’t specify exact timing, but as a preventive medication, Montelukast Viatris must be taken daily to control asthma and allergic rhinitis symptoms effectively.

Yes, it doesn’t matter if you take Montelukast Viatris before or after food.

No, Montelukast is not addictive.

Montelukast Viatris helps control your asthma, so it must be taken every day as prescribed. Continue taking it for as long as your doctor prescribes to maintain control of your condition.

No, Montelukast Viatris is not used to treat acute asthma attacks. If an acute attack occurs, follow your doctor’s instructions for your reliever medicine and keep taking your Montelukast Viatris as prescribed.