Kids' Health Commonly Prescribed Drugs Singulair Medication for Children With Allergies By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Vincent Iannelli, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO on November 23, 2019 facebook Jonathan Jassey, DO, is a board-certified private pediatrician at Bellmore Merrick Medical in Bellmore, New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Jonathan B. Jassey, DO on November 23, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Indications How It Works Child-Friendly Forms Side Effects Singulair is a prescription allergy and asthma medication that can be used in children as young as six months old. Unlike most allergy medications, Singulair doesn't usually cause drowsiness or sedation, which may make it a good choice for children who have gotten sleepy with Zyrtec, Claritin, or Clarinex. KidStock / Blend Images / Getty Images Uses Singulair is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat: Perennial allergic rhinitis in children 6 months and older Indoor allergies in children 6 months and older Seasonal allergic rhinitis in children over 2 Outdoor allergies in children over 2 Asthma attack prevention and long-term maintenance in children 12 months and older Exercise-induced asthma prevention in children 6 and older Singulair is shown to help control children's allergy symptoms, including: Sneezing Stuffy nose Runny nose Itchy nose Forms of Singulair include: Singulair Oral Granules (ages 6 months to 5 years) Singulair Chewable Tablets 4mg (ages 2 to 5 years) Singulair Chewable Tablets 5 mg (ages 6 to 14 years) Singulair Tablets 10 mg (ages 15 and above) Understanding the Basics of Childhood Asthma Not a Rescue Medication! Children should not take Singulair for the immediate relief of an asthma attack. A rescue inhaler is the best medication for that. How Singulair (Montelukast) Can Help Asthma How It Works Montelukast sodium, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, is the active ingredient in Singulair. Leukotrienes are thought to cause many allergy and asthma symptoms, so blocking them with Singulair may help control your child's symptoms. Child-Friendly Forms Singulair comes as oral granules and as a chewable tablet, making it easy to give to young kids who can't swallow pills and won't drink a liquid allergy medicine. You can dissolve the granules in a teaspoon of infant formula or breast milk; or mix them with a spoonful of soft food, such as baby food, applesauce, rice, or ice cream. You can also put them directly in your child's mouth. It's a once-a-day medication, but children with asthma should take their Singulair in the evening. Children with allergies can take it whenever it is convenient but preferably at about the same time each day. Should You Use Singulair to Treat Your Allergies? Side Effects Singulair is generally well tolerated by children. The most common side effects include: Stomach pain Stomach or intestinal upset Heartburn Tiredness Fever Stuffy nose Cough Flu Upper respiratory infection Dizziness Headache Rash Less common side effects include: Agitation and aggressive behavior Allergic reactions Hives and itching Bad or vivid dreams Increased bleeding tendency Bruising Diarrhea Drowsiness Hallucinations Hepatitis Indigestion Pancreatitis Irritability Joint pain Muscle aches Muscle cramps Nausea Palpitations Pins and needles/numbness Restlessness Seizures Swelling Trouble sleeping Vomiting Tell your doctor right away if your child experiences any of the following potentially serious symptoms: Pins and needles or numbness in the arms or legs Flu-like illness Rash Severe pain and swelling of the sinuses The FDA in 2009 required the manufacturer of Singulair to include a warning about an increased risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide. A 2018 study found the link between Singulair use and depression was weak and more likely represented a link between asthma and depression. Still, children taking Singulair and their parents should be aware of the warning. Can Singulair Side Effects Affect Your Mental Health? A Word From Verywell If you think your child would benefit from Singulair, talk to your pediatrician or allergist. Be sure you know the potential risks and watch for side effects, as you should with any medication. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Merck & Co., Inc. Patient Information: Singulair. Updated February 2019. Sirois P. Leukotrienes: One step in our understanding of asthma. Respir Investig. 2019;57(2):97-110. doi:10.1016/j.resinv.2018.12.003 Merck & Co., Inc. Singulair (Montelukast Sodium). Additional Reading Winkel JS, Damkier P, Hallas J, Henricksen DP. Treatment with motelukast and antidepressive medication-a symmetry analysis. Pharmacoedpidemiol Drug Saf. 2018;27(12):1409-15. doi:10.1002/pds.4638