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Montelukast

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Abstract

  • ▴ Montelukast is a selective antagonist of the leukotriene D4 (LTD4) receptor. In patients with asthma, montelukast 5 to 250 mg/day attenuated LTD4-induced bronchoconstriction and, at a dosage of 10mg, significantly reduced early and late airway response to allergen (dust mite extract) relative to placebo.

  • ▴ In studies evaluating the effects of various dosages of montelukast on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction the optimal dose of the drug was found to be 10mg.

  • ▴ Montelukast 10 mg/day controlled asthma significantly more effectively than placebo in a 3-month randomised double-blind study. In a 9-month open extension of this trial, during which patients were randomised to treatment with montelukast 10 mg/day or beclomethasone (≈400 μg/day), daytime symptom score and β-agonist use decreased to a similar extent in each group.

  • ▴ In a further study, treatment with montelukast 10 mg/day permitted clinically significant tapering of corticosteroid dosage in patients with stable asthma.

  • ▴ Montelukast (5 mg/day) has also demonstrated efficacy in childhood asthma.

  • ▴ The tolerability profile of montelukast was similar to that of placebo in placebo-controlled clinical trials in adults and children; the most common adverse event was headache.

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  1. Adis International Limited, 41 Centorian Drive, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 10, New Zealand

    Anthony Markham & Diana Faulds

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  1. Anthony Markham
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  2. Diana Faulds
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Correspondence to Anthony Markham.

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Markham, A., Faulds, D. Montelukast. Drugs 56, 251–256 (1998). https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-199856020-00010

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