Is It OK To Take 20mg Of Montelukast?

Asthma is a life-threatening disorder that congests the airflow in the lungs. Airways present in the human body help the lungs to inhale and exhale air. However, when a person has asthma, the airways inflate, and they have difficulty breathing. 

This chronic disease is not new to the world, and scientists have discovered many useful medications. But Montelukast remains one of the most effective therapeutic drugs to date. It helps to treat asthma by preventing short-term bronchoconstriction. 

Just like other medicines, patients tend to get confused about the right dosage of it. The Internet is literally flooded with searches like “how to take Montelukast?” or “is it ok to take 20mg of montelukast?” So, if you are one of them, it’s time to stop scratching your head and get back right on the topic. 

Drug Details Of Montelukast

Belonging to the drug class “leukotriene receptor” antagonists, Montelukast is another term for leukotriene modifiers. Patients have to swallow these oral tablets, which mostly come in the strength of 10 mg. The Food and Drug Administration has shown a green flag to the medication to drugs as far as adults are concerned. 

Kids over 15 years old can safely ingest Montelukast. The drug’s name can sometimes be interchangeably used with montelukast sodium as they are the same. Sodium in Montekulast allows the medicine to dissolve into your body and start its function right away. Additionally, the oral tablet contains a small amount of sodium, thus signifying fewer side effects. 

Both oral granules and chewable tablets arrive in strengths that are perfect for use in children and young adolescents. Through oral granules, we understand powder that can be consumed and mixed with liquids and solids. In the next section of the article, you will discover the appropriate dosage amount of the drug. 

Dosage Information of Montelukast

Now that you know what the therapeutic drug has been made up of, it’s time to understand its dosage. Here is a small breakdown to make you understand:

1. Before you actually begin the process, make sure to go through the medication guide your pharmacist has provided you. This might cause some questions in your mind, so do not hesitate to get clarity from your doctor. 
2. In the case of oral Montelukast, take it with or without food. Your doctor is most likely to prescribe you the dosage based on your medical condition and age. 
3. If it’s a chewable tablet, chew it properly before swallowing it. Children cannot usually swallow or chew medicines. In that case, consult your healthcare provider and ask them for a different alternative. 
4. Ingest the tablet every day at the same time. If the Montelukast you are having is solely for asthma or both allergies and asthma, consume it during the evening. On the other hand, ingest it only during the morning if your medication’s purpose is to avoid allergies. 
5. Moving on to Montelukast’s ability to avoid breathing problems. Take the tablet 2 hours before you opt for exercise. Refrain from taking more than a single dose in one day. Also, do not repeat the medicine if you already consume it for allergies or asthma. 

Some Do’s and Don’ts To Keep In Mind

✅ Keep using this drug regularly to avoid sudden asthma attacks and keep asthma symptoms under control.

✅Even if you are not experiencing severe asthma attacks, gulp it (after the doctor’s recommendation) down to avoid further complications. 

✅ Keep taking other medications that will simply support Montelukast’s purpose. 

✅ The medicine functions well as time passes by. Instead of using it as a painkiller for sudden attacks, keep ingesting it regularly on a smaller dose. 

❌ Never increase or decrease the dose without talking to your doctor. Also, do not stop taking it without consultation. 

❌ Don’t give up on your inhaler. Remember, Montelukast isn’t a painkiller that will provide you with instant relief. If you experience frequent asthma attacks, always keep a quick-relief inhaler by your side. 

Last but not least, it is always a better idea to seek medical help. Do not worsen your situation!

Side Effects of Montelukast

Let’s talk about the rare side effects first. Montelukast has rarely caused severe mood or mental changes in patients. These effects sometimes arrive after the individual stops taking it. However, consult your doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Agitation
• Abnormal thoughts or dreams
• Anxiety to a great extent
• Depression
• Loss of attention
• Lower memory span
• Troubled sleep
• Hallucinations
• Restlessness
• Aggressive behavior
• Sleepwalking
• Suicidal thoughts

If you know someone who has been witnessing these symptoms after a significant Montelukast dosage, do help them out by taking them to a doctor. You might reach out to emergency help, too, if situations get out of control. 

Below are some mild effects of the medicine on a person:

• Numbness in a particular body part like the legs or arms
• Swelling or sinus pain
• Muscles getting weak
• Stuttering
• Uncontrolled movements of the muscle
• Rash or itching in the body
• Severe dizziness
• Allergic Reaction
• Breathing Issues

More than 5% of the global people who take Montelukast on a regular basis have experienced these symptoms. So, if you are finding yourself on that list, too, do not panic. Just contact your medical care provider and get things sorted. 

Precautions For Avoiding Side-Effects

Before you consume Montelukast, make sure you talk to your pharmacist or general physician. Let them know if you have a certain allergy problem, and they will craft a tailored solution based on that. The therapeutic drug consists of certain inactive ingredients that might cause allergies to some people. 

Secondly, do not hesitate to share your medical history with your doctor. Your healthcare provider has all the rights to know your medical records. Certain medications can cause side effects when taken alongside Montelukast. For instance, drugs used for treating liver disease or depression might react when taken with Montelukast, even if the quantity is 20 mg. 

Chewable tablets consist of aspartame. So, if you are having conditions like phenylketonuria, which limits aspartame consumption, again, opt for consultation. If you are a pregnant woman, take this medication only when your doctor asks you to do so. The medicine passes into your breast milk, which might have an impact while you are breast-feeding. 

Montelukast Overdose: Here’s What You Should Do!

It would be better to say this straightly: if an individual consumes a lot of montelukast, contact Poison Control immediately. Not much can be done by keeping the individual at home; instead, try to get them into the hospital to curb the negative impacts. 

To reach Poison Control, you can visit www.poison.org or call them at 1-800-222-1222. Both alternatives are free of cost, available 24 hours a day, and highly confidential! 

Well, you can always keep things positive. Here are a few precautions people with different health conditions can leverage:

1. Liver Patients

Those having Montelukast regularly can or cannot deal with liver problems such as liver cell damage or cholestatic hepatitis. 10% of these individuals reported severe liver problems, out of which 2% had a near-death encounter. If you are a liver patient and often deal with liver inflammation, it’s good to have a proper doctor consultation before ingesting the medicine. 

2. Severe Mood Changes

This is another backdrop that may require careful consideration. Individuals can encounter serious changes in mood and behavior, like depression, hallucinations, and aggressive behavior. These tablets must not be taken in a high dosage if someone is constantly having suicidal thoughts or frequent mood changes. 

3. Lactating Mothers

As mentioned above, Montelukast has a higher chance of getting mixed with breast milk. Not only will that be harmful for the baby, but it might have a negative impact on the lactating mother, too. In such instances, you can ask your doctor to provide you with a less risky alternative or avoid getting into situations that can trigger asthma. 

4. Birth Control

Oral tablets do not cause any harmful effects on expecting mothers. But in the case of birth control, it might cause possible risks. Take these risks into consideration if you use birth control pills because the two might not be good news for your body. A doctor’s recommendation will be a good place to start with. 

5. Aspirin or NSAID-Sensitivity

A few NSAIDs might trigger asthma symptoms in a few people. Avoid these medications if you are allergic to anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin. A few examples of drugs you should avoid along with aspiring while ingesting Montelukasy are ibuprofen, celecoxib, and naproxen. 

So, Is It OK To Take 20mg Of Montelukast?

Consuming a lot of Montelukast at smaller intervals may put you at a higher risk of welcoming unwanted side effects. Certain studies have pointed out that a dosage of upto 100 mg is considered safe. So, the answer is yes! 20mg of Montelukast is perfectly suitable for an adult dealing with chronic asthma. 

With that, it’s a wrap on this comprehensive guide. Thank you for reading this till the end. I hope you learned something valuable from this. Do not forget to take these precautions and steer clear of potential risks.

Continue Reading:

• Is It OK To Take 100mg Of Sildenafil?
• Innovations In Addiction Treatment At The Rehab Centers
• The Benefits Of Exercise And Physical Therapy In Home Care Plans