Montelukast and Shortness Of Breath: What Users Say

• jol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2016

Singulair (montelukast) for Asthma "OMG!! I've been taking Singulair for one week. I haven't received my Advair from the mail order pharmacy... But, Singulair is a miracle. I had shortness of breath (SOB) and tight chest - it felt like I was having angina. Really, after the first dose, I noticed I coughed less. Today I walked all the way from the back parking lot to my floor without stopping or SOB. Didn't even have to use my inhaler. Amazing!"

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2012

Singulair (montelukast) for Allergic Rhinitis "I have horrible hay fever. Regular antihistamines do not work for me. I still suffer a lot if I take them. Terrible itchy eyes, runny nose, terrible asthma at night which kept me up, and a whole lot of sneezing and an achy body. My doctor prescribed me Singulair along with Patanol and Nasonex. Singulair has changed my life forever. My symptoms have been reduced by as much as 95%. I have no asthma, sneeze occasionally, and my itchy eye episodes occur sporadically but stop within minutes. I don't usually even carry eye drops with me anymore, which before would have been insane of me not to do. I'll give Singulair a 10/10 due to the fact that I've had amazing results and it's the only medication I need to make it through allergy season!"

• ItW...
• January 31, 2013

Singulair (montelukast) for Asthma, Maintenance "The inhaler from the allergist didn't help my breathing problems. I always felt the fresh air I breathed in only got halfway down and then hit a filter of some sort. I had wheezing and whistling every day at the end of my exhale. The inhaler didn't help. I was out of breath from the slightest activity. I got a prescription from my family practice doctor for this. This has eliminated my wheezing and out-of-breath feeling. I'm allergic to just about everything year-round. It did not eliminate my need for allergy medication, but it has made my breathing perfect. I wouldn't ever want to do without this medication."

• ItW...
• January 31, 2013

Singulair (montelukast) for Asthma, Maintenance "The inhaler from the allergist didn't help my breathing problems. I always felt the fresh air I breathed in only got halfway down and then hit a filter of some sort. I had wheezing and whistling every day at the end of my exhale. The inhaler didn't help. I was out of breath from the slightest activity. I got a prescription from my family practice doctor for this. This has eliminated my wheezing and out-of-breath feeling. I'm allergic to just about everything year-round. It did not eliminate my need for allergy medication, but it has made my breathing perfect. I wouldn't ever want to do without this medication."

• ser...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2015

Singulair (montelukast) for Asthma, Maintenance "I've been stepping up and up since I was diagnosed with asthma. First, it was just Ventolin, then we added Clenil Modulite, then Seretide 50/25 at Christmas, up to Seretide 125/25 a few weeks later, adding in Avamys nasal spray for hay fever and Acrivastine for hay fever and Type 1 latex allergy, then finally adding on Montelukast. Sadly, unlike some of the other people on here, I haven't been able to get down to just Montelukast. However, I'd say it's a miracle pill! I play ice hockey, and overnight I went from tight chest and coughing and wheezing after hockey (I have CVA, so wheezing is weird) to being totally fine. I still struggle if I max out, so I have to change out regularly, but I play forward, so that's easy enough. It's just great!!!"

• Anonymous
• June 10, 2011

Singulair (montelukast) for Allergic Rhinitis "I am 29. Singulair alleviated my seasonal allergies in the beginning for a period of 2 weeks maybe. After that, I had the opposite reaction, was having a hard time breathing, and my nose and throat were dry all the time. I stayed on it thinking it was something else, then I decided to quit it because after a regular run, it triggered tachycardia. This was something I never had before, I am a healthy guy, used to push myself hard during workouts. Once I stopped, there were no issues with a dry nose or anything else. Guess I'm one of the minority that have adverse reactions to it."

• Foo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2018

For Asthma "I took Montelukast for 9 days before bedtime. I was having frequent common colds, so my doctor prescribed me Montelukast as an alternative to Levocetirizine. My asthma is not so serious as I only use the Revolizer and not the inhaler. I'd advise everyone to not use this med as it has some serious side effects. After taking the first few tablets, I started feeling anxious, and I experienced breathing problems. I visited the doctor, and he said that I shouldn't have any breathing problems as my lungs were fine. Then I checked for the side effects of Montelukast and found out it has a lot, so I consulted with my doctor, and he removed Montelukast from the prescription. It's been 5 days since I dropped that drug, and I still feel anxious and have difficulty breathing at times. Reading others' reviews has helped, and now I'm just going to wait till this anxiety goes away. I just hope that it goes away, this anxious feeling is getting on my nerves."

• Foo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2018

For Asthma "I took Montelukast for 9 days before bedtime. I was having frequent common colds, so my doctor prescribed me Montelukast as an alternative to Levocetirizine. My asthma is not so serious as I only use the Revolizer and not the inhaler. I'd advise everyone to not use this med as it has some serious side effects. After taking the first few tablets, I started feeling anxious, and I experienced breathing problems. I visited the doctor, and he said that I shouldn't have any breathing problems as my lungs were fine. Then I checked for the side effects of Montelukast and found out it has a lot, so I consulted with my doctor, and he removed Montelukast from the prescription. It's been 5 days since I dropped that drug, and I still feel anxious and have difficulty breathing at times. Reading others' reviews has helped, and now I'm just going to wait till this anxiety goes away. I just hope that it goes away, this anxious feeling is getting on my nerves."

• Gai...
• December 24, 2017

Singulair (montelukast) for Allergic Rhinitis "This drug did nothing for my stuffy nose, cold, cough, and wheezing, but the side effects are horrible. After less than a week of taking it, I could not sleep, was unable to focus, had a panic attack at the grocery store with sweating and dizziness, felt like I was going to faint, was very tired and achy. I did not connect it to the drug at first, but then I went to take it, and it dawned on me that maybe I should check out the side effects. These are all side effects of the medication. I had lost my mother about a month ago, and I kept thinking I was just not coping well, but once I stopped taking the medication, I was able to sleep and the sweating and dizziness went away. My aches are much less as well."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been taking Montelukast for several weeks, and my shortness of breath on getting up and moving around has worsened. Stopped it, and I can breathe better and can now cough up mucus. For some reason, I think the Montelukast made the mucus harder to move rather than loosening it."

• Jud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2017

For Asthma "When my asthma drug was discontinued, I started taking montelukast with horrible side effects! For a week or so, the asthma improved, and I was very happy, but then I slowly developed some type of breathing problem unrelated to asthma. My breathing was very heavy, and I had chest discomfort and could barely walk to the bathroom. Feeling of extreme anxiety and felt like I was suffocating. I tried to do controlled breathing for hyperventilation in case this was the problem. I don't know if the drug caused me to hyperventilate or if it caused such anxiety that I hyperventilated on my own or if it was some other kind of breathing difficulty. I stopped the drug, and it took about 3 weeks for symptoms to leave permanently."

• Jud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2017

For Asthma "When my asthma drug was discontinued, I started taking montelukast with horrible side effects! For a week or so, the asthma improved, and I was very happy, but then I slowly developed some type of breathing problem unrelated to asthma. My breathing was very heavy, and I had chest discomfort and could barely walk to the bathroom. Feeling of extreme anxiety and felt like I was suffocating. I tried to do controlled breathing for hyperventilation in case this was the problem. I don't know if the drug caused me to hyperventilate or if it caused such anxiety that I hyperventilated on my own or if it was some other kind of breathing difficulty. I stopped the drug, and it took about 3 weeks for symptoms to leave permanently."

• Jud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2017

For Asthma "When my asthma drug was discontinued, I started taking montelukast with horrible side effects! For a week or so, the asthma improved, and I was very happy, but then I slowly developed some type of breathing problem unrelated to asthma. My breathing was very heavy, and I had chest discomfort and could barely walk to the bathroom. Feeling of extreme anxiety and felt like I was suffocating. I tried to do controlled breathing for hyperventilation in case this was the problem. I don't know if the drug caused me to hyperventilate or if it caused such anxiety that I hyperventilated on my own or if it was some other kind of breathing difficulty. I stopped the drug, and it took about 3 weeks for symptoms to leave permanently."

• Rov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2016

For Asthma "After a bad flu virus, I was left with asthma and allergic rhinitis... Trouble at night and early morning. Coughing, wheezing, and tight breathing. Montelukast worked. To test the theory, I had to come off montelukast three times. Everything returned. Honestly, a life-saving drug."

• Rov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2016

For Asthma "After a bad flu virus, I was left with asthma and allergic rhinitis... Trouble at night and early morning. Coughing, wheezing, and tight breathing. Montelukast worked. To test the theory, I had to come off montelukast three times. Everything returned. Honestly, a life-saving drug."

• CA1...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 3, 2016

For Asthma "I have taken Singulair or the generic Montelukast for almost 2 decades now and have had excellent results on the drug. I almost cannot tell I have asthma while taking the medication, provided I am not exposed to cigarette, wildfire, or any other form of smoke. However, I want to share that I have had the experience now of taking three U.S. generics that I did not have excellent results on. Within about 30 days of starting the generic in each case, I began experiencing asthma symptoms as if I were taking either a placebo or nothing at all. Only one generic that I have found thus far has been as effective for me as the brand-name medication, and the generic has unfortunately been discontinued by my pharmacy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2012

Singulair (montelukast) for Asthma, Maintenance "I've been taking Singulair for three weeks now after going off Advair, which is no longer covered by my insurance. I now have to use a rescue inhaler several times a day and am constantly coughing, feel out of breath, and tired. Maybe three weeks isn't long enough of a trial period. I'm hoping my breathing gets better in the next week, or I'm calling the doctor to try another medication."

• Res...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 22, 2023

Singulair (montelukast) for Asthma "I have been on the real Singulair for over 20 years. It has saved my life. I have had allergies since I was 6 that led to asthma. I almost died 8 times before finding Singulair. I also have skin allergies. Since I have not been able to get my Singulair in the last month, I have lost 1/2 my hair and now wheeze constantly. Please bring it back, if only for asthmatics."

• sue...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 17, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "My doctor gave me montelukast for allergies and I have been on it for about a year. I recently stopped taking it because I've noticed I'm getting leg cramps at night in bed, my entire body just hurts. My anxiety is through the roof, and my mood has been bad - everything and everyone irritates me. It makes me breathless when walking and I cough a lot more. I didn't take one last night, and I feel more relaxed today."

• Rea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2017

For Allergic Rhinitis "I've been on this now for the past 4 months as treatment for chronic sinusitis. The beginning was fine and seemed to be helpful. I am now being treated for pharyngitis for the past 4 months. Have even been rushed to the hospital, unable to breathe. I stopped taking it yesterday, now I have to wait out the side effects to wear off so I can feel better and breathe again. How long do the side effects stay with you?"

• Cut...
• July 24, 2018

For Asthma "Went to urgent care for breathing troubles. The nurse did a breathing treatment and prescribed me a rescue inhaler, Zpac for inflammation, cetirizine, and montelukast (Singulair). I was pregnant at the time. All the drugs were B-rated or above except for the Singulair - a D for pregnancy. I was hesitant about this drug therefore from the start. I took it for about a week with no improvements. I woke up with a headache each day and experienced throat tightness and labored breathing - not asthma wheeziness from it. One night my throat got very tight, so I took the rescue inhaler and saw no improvement. I went to the ER. The doc determined I had an anxiety reaction and not an asthma attack as my breathing sounded very clear. That night I decided to ditch the Singulair and never take it again in my life. This drug caused more breathing troubles and anxiety in less than a week. I'm so glad I went with my instinct and quit the drug to protect me and my unborn child."

• Fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

For Asthma "So I just took this 10 mg tablet a few minutes ago. Now, all of a sudden, I get this rush of heat all over my body. Like direct sunlight on a hot day. Then, for a few moments, I really had to work to control my breathing. It really scared me. Is that normal?"

• Hol...
• February 14, 2018

For Asthma, Maintenance "I have been taking Singulair for many years (around 15 years). When I first started taking it, the Singulair worked great. It was not a generic, and I was able to get off steroids by taking it. Within the past 3 months, when I started taking one of the new generics made by Camber Pharmaceutical, my wheezing and coughing started again. This new generic does not work. I found a bottle with about ten of the other Singulair and started taking them, and they worked. I tried again to take the new ones and started wheezing and coughing again."

• Who...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "I was having bad allergies, my nose was really swollen. Doc prescribed this for me, and within a few days, it was gone. Helps with my summer allergies, but I still need my other medications. Also, I had a few times when I felt I could not breathe, which is rare. So, I took this medicine and felt better in just a few minutes."

• car...
• August 20, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "I cannot use montelukast again. I used it for one month, and it gave me bad side effects: painful stomach, shortness of breath, blocked nasal, headache, anxiety, panic, sleeping issues. I stopped two months ago, and some side effects are still here with me. What an awful drug."