5.13 Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists
Montelukast is a leukotriene antagonist medication with a distinctly-shaped square tablet. See Figure 5.19.[1]
Mechanism of Action: Montelukast blocks leukotriene receptors and decreases inflammation.
Indications: Montelukast is used for the long-term control of asthma and for decreasing the frequency of asthma attacks. It is also indicated for exercise-induced bronchospasm and allergic rhinitis.
Nursing Considerations: The medication is safe for children 12 months and older. It is available in granule packets and chewable tablets, as well as regular tablets.
Boxed Warning: Serious mental health side effects, including suicidal ideation. Should be avoided for treating mild asthma unless conventional treatment is ineffective.
Side Effects/Adverse Effects: Montelukast can cause headache, cough, nasal congestion, nausea, hepatotoxicity, and suicidal ideation.
Health Teaching & Health Promotion: Clients should be instructed to take medications at the same time each day and at least two hours prior to exercise. They should not discontinue medications without notifying the health care provider.[2]
Now let’s take a closer look at the medication grid on montelukast in Table 5.13.[3],[4],[5],[6]
Table 5.13 Montelukast Medication Grid
Class/Subclass |
Prototype/Generic |
Nursing Considerations |
Therapeutic Effects |
Side/Adverse Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leukotriene Inhibitor | montelukast | Use as directed; not to be used as a quick relief medication for asthma attacks
Typically, 3-7 days to reach effectiveness Boxed warning for serious mental health side effects, including suicidal ideation. Should be avoided for treating mild asthma unless conventional treatment is ineffective |
Prevention and treatment of asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction | Headache
Cough Nasal congestion Nausea Hepatotoxicity Suicidal ideation |
- “Singulair 10mg” by FedEx is licenced under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 ↵
- uCentral from Unbound Medicine. https://www.unboundmedicine.com/ucentral ↵
- This work is a derivative of Pharmacology Notes: Nursing Implications for Clinical Practice by Gloria Velarde licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 ↵
- Frandsen, G., & Pennington, S. (2018). Abrams’ clinical drug: Rationales for nursing practice (11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. ↵
- This work is a derivative of DailyMed by U.S. National Library of Medicine in the Public Domain. ↵
- Adams, M., Holland, N., & Urban, C. (2020). Pharmacology for nurses: A pathophysiologic approach (6th ed.). pp. 622-63. ↵