Montelukast Mylan (Montelukast 10mg) Tablets

Montelukast Mylan general information

What is Montelukast Mylan used for?

If you suffer from asthma, you will be familiar with that unpleasant feeling of not being able to breathe comfortably, and you will probably always have an inhaler at hand.  Asthma is a common disease of the small airways of the lungs called bronchioles and is usually treated using an inhaled medication.  Montelukast Mylan tablets 10mg are an asthma medication that is taken orally.  It is used to treat and manage severe bronchial asthma, where the symptoms cannot be controlled by using an inhaler alone.  Montelukast Mylan is also used to treat exercise-induced asthma and to prevent asthma exacerbation (worsening of symptoms), but not to treat an asthma attack.  Montelukast Mylan tablets 10mg are suitable for adults 15 years and older.

Asthma symptoms and triggers

Symptoms of asthma include wheezing and coughing, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath.  Having asthma means you have sensitive airways that are reactive to specific triggers.  These include triggers that cause an allergic reaction, such as pollen, dust or mould, and this type of asthma is called allergic asthma.  Non-allergic asthma triggers include inhaled irritants like a chemical or cigarette smoke, cold air, an infection, stress, exercise or some medications.  Exercise-induced asthma is a particular type of asthma that only happens after exertion but can last for over an hour after you stop exercising. 

Eventually, exposure to an asthma trigger causes inflammation of the sensitive bronchiole lining so that they become swollen and inflamed.  Another sign of inflammation of the airways is the overproduction of mucus, usually produced to keep the airways moist, and this further blocks the airways. 

Bronchioles are lined by bands of smooth muscle that are usually relaxed, allowing the bronchioles to expand and air to pass freely through into the air sacs or alveoli of the lungs.  When they become inflamed the smooth muscle contracts, which narrows the bronchioles making breathing difficult as it becomes harder to inhale and requires more effort to blow air out of the lungs.  This narrowing of the bronchioles is called bronchospasm.  

If the bronchioles are already in a state of chronic inflammation, an asthma trigger may cause sudden constriction and narrowing of the bronchioles, which can cause an asthma attack.

Allergy

An allergy is the result of your immune system, which is your body’s defence against invasion by harmful organisms, overreacting to a substance that is not generally harmful.  Allergies are triggered by substances known as allergens.  Common inhaled allergens are pollen, commonly known as hay fever, which is a seasonal allergy.  Other inhaled allergens are around all year causing perennial allergy and include animal fur, mould and house dust mites.  Symptoms of allergic reactions to inhaled allergens are grouped under the term allergic rhinitis, with symptoms including nasal congestion, runny itchy nose, sneezing, tearing, itchy, red, and puffy eyes, and problems sleeping.  Montelukast Mylan tablets 10mg are used to help relieve symptoms of these allergies. 

How does Montelukast Mylan work?

The pathophysiology of asthma, which is how the disease process develops, is based on a chain of cellular and chemical events that takes place in the airways.  

Leukotrienes (LTs) are chemical messengers that are produced by specific cells of the immune system such as mast cells and eosinophils that are found in the airways.  Leukotrienes are synthesised in response to asthma triggers, and specific leukotrienes called the cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC4, LTD4, LTE4) play an essential role in inflammation of the airways.  These cysteinyl leukotrienes cause smooth muscle contraction resulting in bronchoconstriction, stimulate mucus secretion that blocks the airways and increases the permeability (leakiness) of the small blood vessels that allows fluid into the small airways causing swelling.  They also attract other inflammatory cells like macrophages into the airways and this escalates the inflammatory response.  Leukotrienes are also produced in response to exercise and cold temperatures which is the cause of exercise and cold-induced asthma.

Leukotrienes are also released in the nasal passages after exposure to an allergen like pollen or house dust mites, and they have similar effects including increased mucous secretion and blood vessel permeability, which cause symptoms of allergic rhinitis. 

Montelukast Mylan tablets 10mg contain montelukast sodium, which is a selective and orally active (can be taken in tablet form) leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) that is used to prevent leukotriene-mediated inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis.  Receptors for the cysteinyl leukotrienes are found on smooth muscle cells of airways, nasal passages and on Inflammatory cells.  Leukotrienes lock onto their receptors to trigger inflammatory responses in these cells.  Montelukast also binds to these receptors, preventing access of the leukotrienes to their receptors, and this blocks their action.  Montelukast is an effective slow-acting but long-lasting LTRA medication used to prevent leukotriene-mediated inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis

What does Montelukast Mylan contain?

Montelukast Mylan contains the active ingredient montelukast sodium, which is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that prevents leukotriene-mediated inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis.  They also contain microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, sodium laurylsulfate silica colloidal anhydrous.  The film coating consists of: polydextrose, titanium dioxide, hypromellose, triacetin, indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132), macrogol 400, sunset yellow aluminium lake (E110), macrogol 8000.

What are the side effects of Montelukast Mylan?

Most medications have some side effects, but they are not experienced by everyone.  Some side effects are commonly experienced when taking Montelukast Mylan, but others are not so common, and you should discuss any problems or concerns with your primary care physician. 

Common side effects when taking Montelukast Mylan include abdominal pain and headache. 

When should Montelukast Mylan not be used?

Have a talk with your primary healthcare physician before taking Montelukast Mylan so that you have a full understanding of what this medicine is for and how to use it.  There are some reasons for not taking a medication; these are called contraindications, and for Montelukast Mylan you should consider the following before taking Montelukast Mylan:

• Have you ever had an unusual reaction or an allergy when taking Montelukast Mylan?
• Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
• Are you under 15 years, you should take the chewable tablets for children instead?
• Are taking phenobarbital that interacts with Apo-Montelukast tablets

If other medications may interact with Montelukast Mylan, your doctor will discuss these with you. 

How should Montelukast Mylan be taken and for how long?

You should take your Montelukast Mylan swallowed whole with a glass of water, with or without food, once daily preferably in the evening.  The dose you take will depend on your doctor’s recommendation and what you are being treated for. 

You should continue to take your Montelukast Mylan tablets 10mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, and for asthma you should continue to take your tablets even if you feel better, as it is intended as a long-term medication to help control your asthma.

Taking Montelukast Mylan with other asthma medications

You can take Montelukast Mylan tablets 10mg as well as your other asthma medication, including inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids, only if recommended by your doctor. 

Missed dose of Montelukast Mylan

If you miss a dose of Montelukast Mylan take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Montelukast Mylan be stored?

You should store your Montelukast Mylan below 25°C in a cool dry place.