MONTELUKAST

72/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by Ajanta Pharma USA Inc.

Montelukast Adverse Events Show High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

183,733 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About MONTELUKAST

MONTELUKAST is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Ajanta Pharma USA Inc.. Based on analysis of 183,733 FDA adverse event reports, MONTELUKAST has a safety score of 72 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for MONTELUKAST include DYSPNOEA, ASTHMA, DRUG INEFFECTIVE, FATIGUE, HEADACHE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for MONTELUKAST.

AI Safety Analysis

Montelukast has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100, placing it in the elevated concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 183,733 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Ajanta Pharma Usa Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Dyspnoea, Asthma, Drug Ineffective. Of classified reports, 65.3% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Montelukast reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events (65.3%), indicating significant safety concerns.

The most common reactions include dyspnea, asthma, and drug ineffectiveness, suggesting potential respiratory and efficacy issues. A wide range of reactions are reported, from respiratory issues to psychiatric effects, indicating a diverse safety profile.

Patients taking Montelukast should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Montelukast has been associated with serious respiratory issues and drug ineffectiveness, and patients should be monitored for these conditions. There are also warnings about off-label use and product dose issues. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 72/100

Montelukast received a safety concern score of 72/100 (elevated concern). This is based on a 65.3% serious event ratio across 78,296 classified reports. The score accounts for 183,733 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This elevated score indicates a notable proportion of serious adverse events and warrants careful monitoring.

Top Adverse Reactions

DYSPNOEA7,723 reports
ASTHMA7,440 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE5,932 reports
FATIGUE5,505 reports
HEADACHE4,786 reports
COUGH4,617 reports
NAUSEA4,213 reports
OFF LABEL USE3,899 reports
PNEUMONIA3,835 reports
PAIN3,602 reports
ANXIETY3,465 reports
DIARRHOEA3,414 reports
WHEEZING3,264 reports
MALAISE2,946 reports
DIZZINESS2,923 reports
PRURITUS2,900 reports
RASH2,866 reports
VOMITING2,681 reports
ARTHRALGIA2,493 reports
PYREXIA2,424 reports
DEPRESSION2,331 reports
INSOMNIA2,301 reports
PRODUCT DOSE OMISSION ISSUE2,258 reports
URTICARIA2,208 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED2,149 reports
FALL2,093 reports
ASTHENIA2,059 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION2,014 reports
HYPERTENSION1,854 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED1,810 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY1,801 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY1,799 reports
COVID 191,788 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS1,749 reports
DEATH1,716 reports
CHEST DISCOMFORT1,712 reports
SINUSITIS1,662 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE1,583 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED1,560 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY1,541 reports
BACK PAIN1,537 reports
LOSS OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES1,484 reports
GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE1,467 reports
CONSTIPATION1,462 reports
PRODUCTIVE COUGH1,417 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL1,385 reports
CHEST PAIN1,358 reports
INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE OF PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION1,347 reports
ERYTHEMA1,335 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED1,312 reports
INFLUENZA1,310 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,292 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING1,250 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,238 reports
INJECTION SITE PAIN1,231 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER1,210 reports
BRONCHITIS1,205 reports
UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION1,182 reports
NIGHTMARE1,175 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN1,164 reports
INFECTION1,153 reports
SOMNOLENCE1,151 reports
AGGRESSION1,146 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE1,145 reports
SLEEP DISORDER1,145 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS1,137 reports
SLEEP DISORDER DUE TO A GENERAL MEDICAL CONDITION1,136 reports
TREMOR1,133 reports
SUICIDAL IDEATION1,124 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION1,111 reports
NASAL CONGESTION1,108 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE1,100 reports
ILLNESS1,096 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY1,072 reports
OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAYS DISORDER1,045 reports
OROPHARYNGEAL PAIN1,024 reports
PARAESTHESIA980 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS972 reports
MYALGIA955 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT944 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA939 reports
HEART RATE INCREASED911 reports
CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE903 reports
HYPOTENSION885 reports
JOINT SWELLING874 reports
HOSPITALISATION871 reports
DEPRESSED MOOD859 reports
RHINORRHOEA855 reports
MEMORY IMPAIRMENT850 reports
ALOPECIA844 reports
RENAL FAILURE840 reports
DYSPNOEA EXERTIONAL818 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE817 reports
LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION811 reports
CONTUSION809 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL790 reports
VISION BLURRED788 reports
MIGRAINE776 reports
PSORIASIS775 reports
PALPITATIONS764 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High percentage of serious adverse events (65.3%)
  • Common reactions include dyspnea, asthma, and drug ineffectiveness
  • Diverse range of reactions, including respiratory, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal issues

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 48,240, Male: 23,176, Unknown: 62. The most frequently reported age groups are age 65 (1,439 reports), age 62 (1,233 reports), age 54 (1,227 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 78,296 classified reports for MONTELUKAST:

  • Serious: 51,098 reports (65.3%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 27,198 reports (34.7%)
Serious 65.3%Non-Serious 34.7%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female48,240 (67.5%)
Male23,176 (32.4%)
Unknown62 (0.1%)

Reports by Age

Age 651,439 reports
Age 621,233 reports
Age 541,227 reports
Age 601,209 reports
Age 631,151 reports
Age 691,145 reports
Age 641,142 reports
Age 661,136 reports
Age 681,109 reports
Age 611,100 reports
Age 591,095 reports
Age 561,054 reports
Age 671,030 reports
Age 581,006 reports
Age 741,006 reports
Age 571,003 reports
Age 70996 reports
Age 76986 reports
Age 72982 reports
Age 71980 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Montelukast has been associated with serious respiratory issues and drug ineffectiveness, and patients should be monitored for these conditions. There are also warnings about off-label use and product dose issues.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Montelukast, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include dyspnoea, asthma, drug ineffective, fatigue, headache. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Monitor patients for serious respiratory issues and drug ineffectiveness, especially in elderly patients. Follow approved dosing and usage guidelines to avoid product dose issues and off-label use. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor Montelukast for safety, and healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Montelukast?

The FDA has received approximately 183,733 adverse event reports associated with Montelukast. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Montelukast?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Montelukast include Dyspnoea, Asthma, Drug Ineffective, Fatigue, Headache. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Dyspnoea (7,723 reports), Asthma (7,440 reports), Drug Ineffective (5,932 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Montelukast.

What percentage of Montelukast adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 78,296 classified reports, 51,098 (65.3%) were classified as serious and 27,198 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Montelukast (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Montelukast break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 48,240, Male: 23,176, Unknown: 62. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Montelukast?

The most frequently reported age groups for Montelukast adverse events are: age 65: 1,439 reports, age 62: 1,233 reports, age 54: 1,227 reports, age 60: 1,209 reports, age 63: 1,151 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Montelukast?

The primary manufacturer associated with Montelukast adverse event reports is Ajanta Pharma Usa Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Montelukast?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Montelukast include: Cough, Nausea, Off Label Use, Pneumonia, Pain. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Montelukast?

You can report adverse events from Montelukast to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Montelukast's safety score and what does it mean?

Montelukast has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100 (elevated concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Montelukast reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events (65.3%), indicating significant safety concerns.

What are the key safety signals for Montelukast?

Key safety signals identified in Montelukast's adverse event data include: High percentage of serious adverse events (65.3%). Common reactions include dyspnea, asthma, and drug ineffectiveness. Diverse range of reactions, including respiratory, psychiatric, and gastrointestinal issues. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Montelukast interact with other drugs?

Montelukast has been associated with serious respiratory issues and drug ineffectiveness, and patients should be monitored for these conditions. There are also warnings about off-label use and product dose issues. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Montelukast.

What should patients know before taking Montelukast?

Monitor patients for serious respiratory issues and drug ineffectiveness, especially in elderly patients. Follow approved dosing and usage guidelines to avoid product dose issues and off-label use.

Are Montelukast side effects well-documented?

Montelukast has 183,733 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The most common reactions include dyspnea, asthma, and drug ineffectiveness, suggesting potential respiratory and efficacy issues. The volume of reports for Montelukast reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Montelukast?

The FDA continues to monitor Montelukast for safety, and healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to MONTELUKAST based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

MontelukastMontelukast SodiumSingulairMontairMontair LP
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.