Montelukast

[BG2015]

I was prescribed this last week by my GP after weeks of failing to get my asthma under control.

How long does it take to work? I've taken it since Thursday.

I'm still very breathless on exertion, but haven't had an asthma attack since I started them. I'm also coughing a lot but it's very lose and rubbishy.

I have a pot to take to the drs with my collected phlegm 🤢

Just desperate for it to start working but understand it's only been four days

It’s a ‘marmite’ drug. It either works for you or not at all. For me, it has a positive effect within 48hrs on my asthma. I take it in the morning, or the side effects tend to be very bad.

I have taken it for about 6 months, can’t say I’ve noticed a difference

What type of asthma do you have - this is for allergy asthma.

My asthma triggers are usually exercise and hot and cold. But at the moment it seems to be all over the place, I just can't control it.

I know it can be taken two hours before exercise. I'm waiting to hear about my chest x ray results and I'm speaking to a member of the long Covid clinic team on Wednesday.

18 months here and I don’t see any effect

Its a wonder drug for my son, I think it is one that gradually builds up though.

It was instant for me

It only works for 50% of people. It works within a week for those it's going to work for

A GP told me it takes 6 weeks to work properly. A Consultant told me it works straight away.

Hope it works for you. Just keep an eye on side effects. It was very effective with the symptoms of my son's asthma, but the gradual build up of anxiety was frightening. Doctor said that in his experience, this side effect is far, far more common than the literature states. Just something to keep an eye on!

My husbands asthma is triggered by seasonal allergies. When they kick off he restarts his montelukast. It takes around two weeks for me to hear a difference in his breathing and for him to stop feeling so fatigued. It has been life changing for my husband. He used to get repeated sinus infections, post nasal drip, constant coughing and repeated chest infections. He hasn’t needed any antibiotics for his chest since starting Montelukast.

I’ve been on it for a few years now, take it every day without fail. Plus my inhaler twice daily, and a nasal spray. Since starting it, towards the end of a really bad chest infection (three different antibiotics, steroids, nebuliser, was off work for four weeks, and honestly thought I was going to die one morning), my asthma is very well controlled (touch wood). I haven’t needed antibiotics or steroids since starting it, and very rarely have to use my reliever inhaler (if it’s very cold and windy, I sometimes need it).
And sorry, I realise I haven’t answered your question, I felt so shit during that bad time that I don’t know how long it took to work for me, given that I was on so much other meds during that time. If I’ve had any side effects from it, I’ve not been aware of them, I take it at bedtime every night.

Thanks for all of your replies. I've woken this morning and haven't started coughing yet so I'm hoping this is a good sign.