In people suffering from allergic rhinitis or asthma, leukotriene-mediated effects are the cause of the triggering mechanism of bronchospasm. At the same time, active sputum production begins, bronchial obstruction decreases. The number of eosinophils is increasing.
Essential therapy
Leave this state unattended. It is necessary to block the cysteinylleukotriene receptors located in the respiratory organs. Preparations with the active substance montelukast are able to bind to special substances and inhibit the process of bronchoconstriction, which occurs in people suffering from asthma.
The most famous drug with the specified active substance is considered to be "Singular". The instruction (reviews about the drug only confirm this) suggests that it is able to suppress bronchospasm at any stage. In this case, the effect appears even when taking low doses of the drug. After taking the drug, the process of expanding the lumen of the bronchi begins.
The indicated Italian preparation is available in the form of chewable tablets or coated tablets, on one side of which should be the inscription MSD 275 or MSD 117, and on the other - SINGULAIR. In the first tablets, the dosage of montelukast sodium is 5.2 mg, in the second - 10.4 mg.
Indications for the appointment of funds
Tablets "Singular" belong to
anti-asthma drugs. They prevent bronchospasm, which can develop when inhaled cysteinyl leukotriene LTD
4 .
Assign as a prophylactic or therapeutic agent "Singular". The drug is used to prevent the development or prolonged treatment of bronchial asthma, including for:
- prevention of night or day symptoms of the disease;
- prevention of the development of bronchospasm during physical exertion;
- treatment of patients with revealed sensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid.
The therapeutic effect is achieved on the first day of taking the "Singular". The drug can be drunk both during an exacerbation of asthma, and during a period of decrease in its manifestations. It can be used simultaneously with other bronchodilators and inhaled glucose steroids.
The cost of the drug and possible substitutes
Despite the high effectiveness of the drug and its indispensability for certain people, many doubt and think whether it is worth buying. The reason for such fluctuations is the cost of the Singular. The price of the package, in which there are 14 tablets, is about 1000 rubles. In this case, the prescribed dosage does not affect the cost. The price of tablets containing 4, 5 or 10 mg of montelukast is practically the same. In individual pharmacies they can be found for 864, but there are those in which they cost 1,045 rubles.
Having learned about the cost of this drug, many begin to look for analogues of "Singular." On sale now there are several types of funds, the active ingredient in which is montelukast. However, some of them are noticeably cheaper than the main drug, although their composition does not differ significantly.
Possible substitutes include such means as “Singlon”, “Montelast”, “Ectalust”, “Montelar”.
Features of the active substance
All analogues of the "Singular" are identical means. Indeed, in all tablets, the main component is montelukast. Regardless of the trade name of the product, the active substance found in it is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
Moreover, the instructions for the drug "Singular" indicate that the intake of ordinary food does not affect the effectiveness of the medication. When using chewable tablets of 5 mg on an empty stomach in adults, the maximum concentration of the drug in blood plasma occurs after 2 hours. And for coated tablets at a dosage of 10 mg, this period is 3 hours.
Montelukast is metabolized in the liver. It is completely excreted from the body with feces for 5 days. This confirms that this drug comes out with bile.
The drug "Singleon"
The specified tool is available in the form of chewable tablets. The concentration of the active substance may be 4.16 or 5.2 mg. The tablets have a lenticular shape, they are pale yellow in color, with a pronounced smell of cherries. Releases these tablets "Gideon Richter Poland."
Many people want to figure out what to buy - “Singlon” or “Singular”? What's better? It's hard to choose. After all, in these preparations the same active substance. They differ only in the concentration of the dye and the substance mannitol. The dosage of the main active and other auxiliary components in these preparations is exactly the same.
As with taking the “Singular” remedy, when using the “Singlon” preparation, a day is enough for the onset of the therapeutic effect. But they recommend taking the drug both during remission and with exacerbation of asthma.
Features of taking drugs
According to the instructions to the tool "Singular", tablets must be taken 1 time per day, without focusing on food intake. Only the time of using the drug is important. For example, if you need to treat asthma, doctors recommend taking it at night. And to get rid of allergic rhinitis, you can drink it at any convenient time. If the patient suffers from both asthma and a runny nose, then the time of admission should be moved to the evening hours.
Children aged 2 to 5 years are prescribed the specified drug or analogues of "Singular" in a dosage of 4 mg / day. Special dose selection is not required. At the age of 6 to 14 years, it is necessary to take a 5 mg tablet every day. But adolescents over 15 years old and adult patients should drink a different form of the drug. They need coated tablets. The concentration of the active substance in them is 10 mg.
By the way, the instructions for the drug “Singlon” indicate that it is necessary to drink it on an empty stomach. This should be done 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal. The same is indicated in the instructions for the Montelast tablets.
Cost of funds
All drugs in which montelukast is the main active ingredient prevent the development of bronchospasm. Often, doctors do not prescribe a specific drug. They say that it is necessary to use medications in which Montelukast is located. Patients themselves can choose whether to buy them a “Singlon” or “Singular”. Which is better, you have to find out on your own. Also, the patient can buy other analogues - Montelast, Ektalust, Montelar.
Various manufacturers produce these medicines. This is one of the reasons for such a significant difference in cost. One of the most expensive is the tool "Singular". The price of a pack of 14 tablets is about 1000 rubles. More affordable is the tool "Single". A pack of 28 tablets costs about 760 rubles. About the same price and the drug "Montelast". But on sale you can find packages of 98 pcs. The price of such a box is about 2150 rubles. for tablets with a dosage of 4 mg, and about 2500 rubles. - for a dosage of 10 mg.
The drug "Ectalust" is released in the form of chewable tablets of 14 pcs. packaged. It costs from 350 rubles. But the price of the Montelar product exceeds 900 rubles. for 14 tablets, it is almost the same as for the drug "Singular."
Asthma does not allow the patient to be particularly picky. To prevent attacks, many patients are forced to choose the most suitable drug and drink it both at the time of deterioration and in periods of remission.
Patient Reviews
Means made on the basis of montelukast can reduce the manifestations of bronchial asthma and prevent the onset of attacks. This is evidenced by the instructions attached to the drug "Singular". Reviews for children who were given the drug suggest that taking it helps prevent the transition of any catarrhal disease to bronchitis. Including obstructive form. Doctors often advise drinking it in courses of 2-3 months. But many choose a different regimen for taking the drug. They drink it for 2-4 weeks. Courses can be repeated as needed.
According to the same scheme, you can use other analogues of the "Singular." They are prescribed not only to asthmatics, but also to people suffering from allergies, which are manifested by a runny nose or bronchospasm. The timely use of montelukast helps prevent the development of asthma.