Singulair Medicine
Singulair medicine is a famous prescription anti-allergy drug that can treat allergic rhinitis in children as young as six months old and seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever due to outdoor allergens) in children who are above 2 years of age. Singulair treats and prevents allergy symptoms in children like runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing and itchy nose. Doctors prescribe this medicine to prevent asthma attacks in adults as well as children who are as young as 12 months old.
When you breathe in an allergen like pollen, the body releases chemicals known as leukotrienes. These chemicals can make your lungs swell and tightens the muscles surrounding the airways, leading to asthma symptoms which include breathlessness. Singulair acts like a leukotriene inhibitor, which stops the chemicals from being released.
Since it is a prescription medication, you should not give it to your child or consume it yourself without the doctor’s advice. Note that Singulair may not work quickly enough, if the asthma attack has already begun. In this case, you have to take a rapid-action inhalation medicine to control the asthma attack. With Singulair, it can take up to some weeks before the symptoms improve considerably. You should take the medicine according to your doctor’s instructions and in case, you do not find any change in 4 weeks or so; you can let him/her know. In case, you are allergic to any drugs, for instance an aspirin, you should inform the doctor. He or she will alter the dose or do more tests to find out if you can safely use the medicine
You should take Singulair once a day; it can be taken with or without food. Doctors prescribe children with asthma to take the medicine in the evening while those who suffer from allergies can take it any suitable time. Infants have to take ‘Singulair Oral Granules’ that can be dissolved in breast milk, infant formula milk or mixed with a spoonful of soft baby food.
Singulair like every other prescription medicine does include side effects like tiredness, stomach upset, stomach pain, heartburn and headache. Long-term use can also include side-effects like swelling of the face and lips, hives, itching and problems in adults specifically like depression, irritability, aggressive behavior, nightmares and hallucinations.