One real goal of asthma control is to prevent asthma symptoms before they start.
According to guidelines from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, people who use their fast-acting inhaler more than 2 times a week may benefit from additional treatment with a controller medicine taken every day.
The airways of people with asthma are swollen and sensitive.
This is called inflammation. Even when asthma is quiet, the underlying inflammation is there, ready to cause symptoms.
Controller medicines are taken every day to help control the swelling in your airways.
Controller medicines help prevent asthma symptoms before they start. Fast-acting inhalers are still an important part of treatment. They quickly relieve asthma symptoms and can help stop an asthma attack. But taking a controller medicine can help you need your fast-acting inhaler less often.
By taking a controller medicine daily, you can have fewer asthma symptoms and fewer asthma attacks.
SINGULAIR is a prescription medicine approved to help control asthma in adults and children as young as 12 months and to help relieve the symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies (outdoor allergies in adults and children as young as 2 years, and indoor allergies in adults and children as young as 6 months).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
SINGULAIR will NOT replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms. You should still have rescue medication available and continue to take your other asthma medications unless your doctor tells you to stop. For asthma, SINGULAIR should be taken once a day, in the evening as prescribed, whether or not you have asthma symptoms. If your symptoms get worse or you need to increase the use of your rescue inhaler, call your doctor at once.
Side effects are generally mild and vary by age, and may include headache, ear infection, sore throat, and upper respiratory infection. Side effects generally did not stop patients from taking SINGULAIR. Check with your doctor if you're pregnant or nursing. SINGULAIR should be taken once a day, as prescribed. SINGULAIR is available by prescription only.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For additional safety information, please see Patient Product Information.
