From the Guidelines
Yes, Montelukast (Singulair) and Loratadine can be safely taken together. These medications work in different ways to treat allergy symptoms and are often prescribed as a combination therapy. Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that blocks inflammatory chemicals in the body, while loratadine is an antihistamine that blocks histamine, another inflammatory substance.
Key Points to Consider
- The standard adult dose for Singulair is 10 mg once daily in the evening, while loratadine is typically taken as 10 mg once daily 1.
- Taking them together can provide more comprehensive allergy relief than either medication alone, especially for people with both nasal and respiratory allergy symptoms 1.
- This combination is particularly helpful for those with allergic rhinitis and asthma.
- Neither medication causes significant drowsiness, and they don't have clinically significant interactions with each other.
- However, you should always inform your healthcare provider about all medications you're taking to ensure there are no contraindications based on your specific health conditions.
Benefits of Combination Therapy
- The combination of an antihistamine and a leukotriene receptor antagonist may show added benefit for allergic rhinitis and provide better protection against seasonal decrease in lung function 1.
- Recognizing that as many as 40% of patients with allergic rhinitis have coexisting asthma, montelukast may be considered when treatment can benefit the combined upper and lower airway 1.
Important Considerations
- It's essential to follow the recommended dosages and consult with a healthcare provider before starting or combining any medications.
- Patients should be aware of potential side effects and interactions, although they are generally minimal with this combination.
- Regular monitoring and follow-up with a healthcare provider can help ensure the safe and effective use of these medications.
From the Research
Efficacy of Montelukast and Loratadine Combination
- The combination of montelukast and loratadine has been shown to be effective in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis, with significant improvements in daytime nasal symptoms, eye symptoms, nighttime symptoms, and quality of life 2.
- A study found that loratadine-montelukast treatment resulted in greater improvement in nasal congestion scores compared to placebo and phenylephrine 3.
- In children with allergic rhinitis, the combination of montelukast and loratadine was found to be effective in reducing turbinate swelling, although there were no significant differences in daytime nasal symptom scores 4.
Safety of Montelukast and Loratadine Combination
- The safety of the fixed-dose, single-tablet therapy loratadine/montelukast has been evaluated in 19 randomized clinical studies, with a low incidence of adverse events reported, comparable to placebo, loratadine monotherapy, and montelukast monotherapy 5.
- The most frequently reported adverse event was headache, with most adverse events being mild and short-lived 5.
- A study comparing the effect of loratadine added to montelukast with montelukast, loratadine, and beclomethasone monotherapies in patients with chronic asthma found that all treatments were generally comparable in terms of adverse experiences 6.
Comparison with Other Treatments
- The combination of montelukast and loratadine has been compared to other treatments, including montelukast alone, loratadine alone, and beclomethasone, with varying results 2, 3, 6.
- A study found that montelukast + loratadine produced a small numerical, but not statistically significant, improvement in FEV(1) compared to montelukast alone 6.