Singular for children: instructions for use

Bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis are a serious problem in pediatrics, since these diseases torment the child and worsen his quality of life, and the hormonal drugs used to treat them have their own disadvantages.

However, in recent years, very effective anti-asthma drugs have appeared that do not contain hormones. One of them is Singular. How does this drug in allergies and asthma, in what doses are prescribed for children, how many days you need to take it to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and what analogues it is permissible to replace - you will find answers to these and other questions in our article.

Singular is produced only in solid form. However, one of the types of drugs are chewable tablets, and the other - tablets in the shell. In the form of a syrup, ampoules, drops, capsules or suspensions, this drug is not available.

All kinds of Singular are packaged in blisters of 7 pieces and sold in packs of 1, 2 or 4 blisters (from 7 to 28 tablets).

On one side of each tablet, you can see the extruded SINGULAIR inscription. The main ingredient of Singulyar is called montelukast, which is presented in the form of montelukast sodium. Depending on the content of such a compound, there are 3 dosages of Singular.

1. Chewable tablets containing 4 mg of Montelukast each have a pink tint and oval shape. On one side of this tool, you can see MSD 71.
2. Chewable tablets, in which montelukast is contained in a dose of 5 mg, are also pink, but they are round and have the inscription MSD 275.
3. The tablets that are released in the shell, contain the most active ingredient - 10 mg of montelukast in each. Their shell has a light cream color, and the form of such a medicine is square with rounded corners. On one side of these tablets is marked MSD 117.

The auxiliary components of the chewable tablets of both dosages are the same and are represented by mannitol, giprolozy, magnesium stearate, red iron oxide and MCC. Aspartame, sodium crosscarmellose and cherry flavoring are also included in this form of Singulyar.

In addition to montelukast, crosscarmellose sodium, MCC, hyprolosis, lactose in the form of monohydrate and magnesium stearate are added to the core of the tablets to be swallowed. The shell of such Singulyar is made of hypromellose, carnauba wax, yellow and red iron oxides, hyproloses and titanium dioxide.

Montelukast represents a group of agents called “leukotriene receptor antagonists”. Leukotrienes are quite active inflammatory mediators - compounds that, in response to an inflammatory response or allergens, are secreted from eosinophils and mast cells.

After release, they bind to specific receptors (they are called cysteinyl, leukotriene), which are in the smooth muscles of the bronchial tree, as well as in macrophages, eosinophils and other cells. It is the leukotrienes that play the main role in the development of the clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.

After they bind to receptors located in the airways, bronchial spasm develops, mucus secretion increases, and the vessels become more permeable, which leads to an attack of bronchial asthma. If the patient has an allergic form of rhinitis, then after the influence of the allergen leukotrienes are released from the mucous membrane cells, as a result of which the symptoms of such a disease begin to appear.

Montelukast able to connect with leukotriene receptors, without affecting other important receptors that are in the respiratory tract - adrenergic receptors, cholinergic receptors or receptors for prostaglandins. As a result of this interaction the drug blocks the effects of leukotrienes. Clinically, it prevents the development of bronchospasm in asthma, and also helps to eliminate an asthma attack or allergic rhinitis.

Besides, medication has a positive effect on respiratory rates (lung volume, respiratory rate, minute volume).

The bioavailability of Singulyar is considered high, since montelukast from the taken pill is absorbed rather quickly and after 2-3 hours the concentration of this compound in the blood becomes maximum. The substance is almost completely bound to proteins that circulate in the blood. After metabolic changes in the liver cells, montelukast leaves the human body with feces for five days.

Taking into account the special mechanism of action of the drug, Singular is claimed:

• in case of allergic rhinitis in order to eliminate the daytime symptoms of such a runny nose and its nightly manifestations;
• with bronchial asthma to reduce the frequency of bronchospasms, including during exercise and at night;
• as a preventive measure to prevent allergic rhinitis and asthma attacks.

Some ENT doctors also prescribe a Singular and adenoids, if the cause of the increase in tonsils is an allergic reaction.

The use of Singular in childhood is contraindicated up to 2 years. In this case, the smallest patients can be given only chewable tablets of 4 mg of the active ingredient. Chewable tablets of 5 mg are prescribed from the age of six, and tablets in the shell are allowed only from 15 years.

The drug should not take children who have identified intolerance to montelukast or another component of the drug. Since there are aspartame in the chewable tablets, this form is also contraindicated in patients with phenylketonuria.

Judging by the reviews of doctors and the results of tests, Singular is usually well tolerated, and its side effects are often mild and do not force you to cancel the treatment.

Tablets in rare cases can cause:

• an allergic reaction, such as hives, rash, or anaphylaxis;
• nausea, diarrhea and other dyspeptic symptoms;
• increased activity of liver enzymes;
• joint or muscle pain;
• enuresis;
• fatigue;
• depression, disorientation, memory problems, aggressiveness and other mental disorders;
• increased tendency to hemorrhages and hematomas, for example, nosebleeds;
• increased risk of respiratory tract infections;
• drowsiness, paresthesia, dizziness;
• swelling;
• heart palpitations.

If any of these symptoms appear after the first dose or after some time since the beginning of treatment with Singular, you must notify your doctor about this, so he picked up another therapy.

The medication is taken once a day, preferably in the evening. Power mode does not affect its reception. The dosage of the drug is determined by the patient's age:

• children 2-5 years, the drug give 1 chewable tablet containing 4 mg of Montelukast;
• A child of 6-14 years old is prescribed a medication of 1 chewable tablet containing 5 mg of Montelukast;
• a teenager 15 years and older needs to swallow 1 tablet in a shell containing 10 mg of montelukast.

During the research, it was found that only very significant dosages of montelukast (over 1000 mg per day) cause negative symptoms. With such a strong overdose, the patient develops drowsiness, headache, thirst, an attack of vomiting or abdominal pain. Symptomatic remedies are used to treat this condition.

Singular is compatible with many drugs used in bronchial asthma. It is often combined with the use of inhaled glucocorticoids or bronchodilators.

Any form of Singular can be obtained by prescription. The cost of one pack of 14 tablets is in the range of 900-1100 rubles.

The shelf life of chewing tablets Singular is 2 years, and tablets in the shell - 3 years. Until the date marked on the package has expired, it is recommended to keep the drug at home in a dry place at a temperature of + 15 + 30 degrees.

There are a lot of good feedback from parents on using Singular. In them, mothers note that the drug helped with allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma, reduced the risk of bronchospasm, exacerbation of the disease, or the transition to ARVI in bronchitis.

The advantages of the drug is its non-hormonal nature and a single dose per day. The disadvantages of the drug, most parents attribute its high price.

A popular doctor believes Singular is an effective antiallergic drug that can prevent bronchospasm and reduce the need for glucocorticoids or drugs that expand the bronchi. The pediatrician uses it in his practice and prescribes young patients with allergic rhinitis or mild asthma.

He confirms that such a tool has passed many controlled studies, which showed its ability to arrest the symptoms of asthma, reduce the number of acute episodes and reduce hypersensitivity to allergens affecting the respiratory tract.

However, a well-known doctor focuses parents on the fact that give Singular to children without a doctor’s prescriptionAfter all, this medication has both contraindications and some features of the intake. Moreover, according to Komarovsky, with ARVI and coughing, such a remedy must be supplemented by other measures, for example, frequent walks, regular airing and a full diet.

Replace the Singular can other drugs based on the same active ingredient. They are:

• Montelar.
• Montelukast.
• Almont
• Singlon.
• Monler
• Ektalust.

All of them are presented in the same forms (in the form of coated tablets and chewable tablets) and in the same dosages as Singular, therefore, are considered an adequate substitute. They are produced in Turkey, Russia, Belgium, Poland and other countries and differ in auxiliary ingredients. For example, the tablets Ectalust domestic production strawberry flavor, and the preparations of the Singleon from Gedeon Richter and Montelar from Sandoz are, like Singular, tablets with a taste of cherry.

As for the price, almost all of these drugs are cheaper, but buying them instead of Singular is not worth negotiating with a doctor. It is best to choose an analogue with a doctor who constantly observes the child.

In addition to drugs with a similar active ingredient, Singular can be replaced with medicines with similar therapeutic effects, such as syrup or tablets. Ketotifen. This medicine acts on mast cells and prevents them from releasing the active compounds in response to the allergen. In syrup, this drug is prescribed from 6 months of age, and in solid form from 3 years.

Doctor reviews about the drug Singular (composition, indications, contraindications, effectiveness, analogues), see the next video.