How to prescribe SINGULAIR for patients with asthma
Pediatric patients aged 12 months to 5 years
One 4-mg oral granules
packet daily
Pediatric patients aged 2 to 5 Years
One 4-mg cherry chewable tablet daily
Pediatric patients aged 6 to 14 Years
One 5-mg cherry chewable tablet daily
Adults and adolescents aged 15 years and older
One 10-mg tablet daily
How to administer oral granules
Phenylketonuric patients should be informed that the 4-mg and 5-mg chewable tablets contain phenylalanine, a component of aspertame.
How to prescribe SINGULAIR for prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
Adults and adolescents aged 15 years and older
One 10-mg tablet daily
Tablets and oral granules packet may not be shown at actual size.
In clinical studies, SINGULAIR was not associated with sedation, with an incidence similar to placebo.
SINGULAIR is indicated for prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in patients aged 12 months and older and for prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in patients aged 15 years and older.
For prevention of EIB, a single dose of SINGULAIR should be taken at least 2 hours before exercise. An additional dose of SINGULAIR should not be taken within 24 hours of a previous dose.
Patients already taking 1 tablet daily for another indication should not take an additional dose to prevent EIB.
SELECTED SAFETY INFORMATION
- SINGULAIR should not be used as rescue medication to treat acute asthma episodes. Patients should be advised to have appropriate rescue medication available.
- Neuropsychiatric events have been reported in patients taking SINGULAIR. These events included agitation, aggressive behavior or hostility, anxiousness, depression, dream abnormalities, hallucinations, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, somnambulism, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor. The clinical details of some postmarketing reports appear consistent with a drug-induced effect. Patients should be advised to report any neuropsychiatric events.
- Use of SINGULAIR may not eliminate the need for inhaled or systemic corticosteroids. Patients should not decrease the dose or stop taking any other antiasthma medications unless instructed by a physician.
- Safety and effectiveness of SINGULAIR in patients younger than 12 months with asthma have not been established.
Before prescribing SINGULAIR, please read the Prescribing Information.