Monark 4 mg Tablet

Leukotriene receptor antagonist for:

• Prevention and long-term control of asthma (add-on treatment), including exercise-induced asthma
• Relief of allergic rhinitis symptoms when other treatments are not suitable

Adults and adolescents 15 years and over: 10 mg once daily in the evening.

Children 6–14 years: 5 mg chewable tablet once daily in the evening.

Children 6 months–5 years: 4 mg (granules or chewable tablet) once daily in the evening.

• Can be taken with or without food. Granules can be mixed with a spoon of soft food and taken within 15 minutes.
• Not for relief of a sudden asthma attack — keep your reliever inhaler.
• Continue daily even when well.

• Allergy to montelukast

Common: headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, upper respiratory infection, fever, raised liver enzymes.

Less common: sleep disturbances, nightmares, irritability, nosebleed, joint or muscle pain.

Important: mood and behaviour changes — agitation, aggression, depression, sleepwalking, suicidal thoughts. Stop and contact a doctor if these occur.

Rare: Churg–Strauss syndrome (rash, worsening chest symptoms, tingling of limbs), severe allergy.

• Watch for mood or behaviour changes, especially in children.
• Do not reduce or stop inhaled or oral steroids suddenly when starting montelukast.
• Chewable tablets may contain phenylalanine.

Can be used in pregnancy if needed to control asthma. Limited data in breastfeeding; use if clearly needed.

• Phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampicin (reduce montelukast levels)
• Gemfibrozil (increases levels)

Abdominal pain, drowsiness, thirst, headache, vomiting, restlessness. Treat symptoms.

Store below 30°C, protected from light and moisture. Use granules immediately after opening.