Is mtelukast the same as montelukast (Singulair) for asthma and allergy treatment?

"Mtelukast" is a Misspelling of Montelukast

"Mtelukast" is not a recognized medication name—it appears to be a typographical error for "montelukast" (brand name Singulair), which is an FDA-approved leukotriene receptor antagonist used for asthma and allergic rhinitis. 1

What is Montelukast?

Montelukast sodium is a selective and orally active leukotriene receptor antagonist that inhibits the cysteinyl leukotriene CysLT1 receptor. 1 The medication is marketed under the brand name Singulair and is available in multiple formulations:

• 10 mg tablets for adults and adolescents ≥15 years 1
• 5 mg chewable tablets for children 6-14 years 1
• 4 mg chewable tablets and oral granules for children 2-5 years 1

Clinical Uses

For Asthma

Montelukast is approved for the chronic treatment of asthma in patients ≥2 years of age. 1 According to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Expert Panel Report 3:

• Montelukast is an alternative (but not preferred) therapy for mild persistent asthma requiring step 2 care 2
• Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are superior to montelukast and improve asthma control more effectively in both children and adults 2
• Montelukast can be used as adjunctive therapy with ICS, though it is not the preferred add-on compared to long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) in patients ≥12 years 2

For Allergic Rhinitis

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends montelukast as a safe and effective option for both seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, with particular value in patients who have both asthma and allergic rhinitis or who cannot tolerate intranasal corticosteroids. 3

• Intranasal corticosteroids are more effective than montelukast for allergic rhinitis 3, 4
• Montelukast has similar efficacy to oral antihistamines for allergic rhinitis 3
• Combination therapy with an antihistamine provides better symptom control than either therapy alone 3

Key Clinical Characteristics

Onset of Action

• Improvements in lung function and reduced beta-agonist use are apparent within 1 day of initiating treatment in adults and adolescents 5
• For allergic rhinitis, clinical benefits begin by the second day of daily treatment, which is slower than antihistamines 4

Efficacy Data

In 12-week controlled trials of adults and adolescents with persistent asthma:

• Montelukast 10 mg/day produced significant improvements in FEV1, symptom scores, peak expiratory flow, beta-agonist use, and quality of life compared to placebo 5
• 42% of montelukast recipients experienced ≥11% improvement in FEV1 5
• Montelukast reduced "as-needed" beta-agonist use by 26.1% from baseline compared with 4.6% for placebo 1

Safety Profile

Montelukast is generally well tolerated across all age groups. 5, 6 The frequency of adverse events in montelukast-treated patients was similar to that in placebo recipients in clinical trials. 5, 6, 7

Common Pitfalls

• Do not confuse the spelling—there is no medication called "mtelukast"; the correct name is "montelukast" 1
• Do not use as first-line monotherapy for persistent asthma when inhaled corticosteroids are appropriate 2
• Do not expect immediate symptom relief—onset takes 1-2 days, unlike rapid-acting bronchodilators or antihistamines 4, 5
• Montelukast is particularly valuable for patients with both asthma and allergic rhinitis, as it addresses both conditions simultaneously 3, 4, 8