Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Montelukast as follows:
- Drink plenty of water while taking Montelukast, as it can help loosen thick secretions in the airways, if any, thus promoting to cough them up. This helps prevent any chest congestion and risk for chest infections.
- Montelukast use can also result in other general constitutional symptoms such as, stomach upset, heartburn, and mild diarrhea. Observing compliance with any OTC or prescribed antacids can help with the burning sensation in the stomach. Compliance with fluid and electrolyte resuscitation recommendations, if any, can help prevent fluid and electrolyte deficits due to diarrhea. The diarrhea can be self-limiting and resolve in due course of time. If you experience any unresolved and continuing diarrhea with Montelukast intake, report it to your physician or other health care personnel, to accommodate any appropriate changes in your plan of care.
- Montelukast use can result in sleep disturbance with poor quality sleep, vivid dreams, restlessness, hallucinations, and compromised memory. Montelukast must be taken with caution in individuals with history of sleep disorders, as Montelukast use can contribute to worsening of insomnia symptoms. Report to your physician or other health care personnel immediately, regarding any gross disturbance with sleep patterns and deterioration of insomnia symptoms, for any appropriate change in plan of care to be made.
