Is Singulair a Steroid?

Here at TestClear, our team of drug testing advisors often receives a lot of drug testing-related questions via live chat or by email, which we are more than happy to answer. Recently, there have been a lot of people who want to know: Is Singulair a steroid or not? So, we tasked our team of drug-testing researchers to find out “is Singulair a steroid” and to write an in-depth report about it. Below are the results of that research, and the answer.

What is Singulair?

Singulair is a prescription medication that is also known as montelukast, and it’s given to people who are one-year-old and over to aid in preventing asthma attacks. There is also a lot of controversy over Singulair, due in part to the severe side effects experienced by some users. Nonetheless, it has a lot of medical benefits for those who suffer from indoor, outdoor and seasonal allergies, and it has also been known to prevent exercise-induced bronchospasm in those 6 years of age and older.

The Medical Benefits of Singulair

In order to understand the medical benefits of Singulair, it’s important to understand what it’s used for. Doctors and physicians prescribe Singulair to those who suffer from severe asthma symptoms and to treat it on a long-term basis. However, it can also help to aid those who are suffering from symptoms of allergic rhinitis or hay fever such as nasal itching, sneezing as well as runny and stuffy noses.

Singulair does not work right away, and it shouldn’t be used to treat sudden breathing problems or asthma attacks. Singulair works by blocking natural substances such as leukotrienes that may worsen or cause allergies and asthma. Additionally, it also makes breathing easier by reducing the swelling that occurs with inflammation in the airways.

Uses of Singulair

Singulair is used frequently to prevent shortness of breath and wheezing caused by asthma and to reduce the number of attacks caused by asthma. This is especially important for children and adults who have asthma and like to exercise because it can help to prevent breathing problems, especially in hot and humid weather conditions during exercise. Singulair can also be used to limit the number of times an individual needs to use their rescue inhaler.

What Are Some of the Side Effects of Singulair?

As mentioned above, there is a lot of controversy about the side effects of Singulair. Although some users have reported little to no side effects at all, there are some who have reported side effects including:

Stomach pain
Upset stomach
Nausea
Heartburn
Diarrhea
Headaches
Tooth and gum pain
Insomnia
Dizziness
Sore throat
Fever
Cough
Stuffy nose
Hoarseness
Mild rash
Upper respiratory infection

Is Singulair an FDA Approved Drug?

Singulair is manufactured and owned by Merck©, and it was approved by the FDA in 1998 for the treatment of asthma-related conditions and symptoms. In 2008, the FDA stated that they would launch an investigation on whether suicidal thoughts or mood changes were possible side effects of modulator drugs such as Singulair.

The data collected suggested that the only increased side effect was insomnia; however, consumer surveys revealed that the side effects associated with Singulair also included agitation, suicidal behavior, irritability, aggression, depression, and hallucinations. There have been many generic versions of montelukast approved by the FDA, but Singulair remains the most popular.

Singulair Recommended Doses

Singulair is available as tablets for adults and oral granules or chewable tablets for children. Below are the recommended doses:

Adolescents and adults 15 years and older is one 10mg tablet per day
Children between the ages of two and five are one 4mg chewable tablet or one 4mg granule packet per day
Children between the ages of six and 14 are one 5mg chewable tablet or 4mg granule packet per day

For children under the age of two, it’s a wise choice to contact a pediatrician before giving Singulair to a child. Additionally, Singular should be taken once daily at night for the prevention of allergy or asthma symptom, and for exercise-induced bronchospasm, it’s recommended to take Singulair two hours before exercise and to wait for at least 24-hours before taking the next dose.

So, is Singulair a Steroid?

According to the manufacturer of Singulair, Merek©, the answer is no, Singulair does not contain a steroid. Singulair also has extended health benefits for those who are exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke, and the data also suggested that the recipients responded quite well to using Singular for those subjected to such unhealthy environments. Although the controversy about Singulair’s side effects remains in question, it’s apparent that doctors understand the overall benefit of prescribing Singulair to their patients is a life or death matter for those who suffer from asthma. So whether you’re an athlete who can’t have steroid in your blood or you just want to avoid the health concerns related with steroid use, you can breathe easier and stop wondering, “Is Singlulair a steroid.” But you still may want to investigate the other side effects and risks of taking Singulair regularly.