- Montelukast, a drug prescribed for asthma, has raised serious concerns due to its potential neuropsychiatric side effects, including depression, aggression, and suicidal tendencies.
- Despite warnings issued by health authorities in the U.S. and U.K., the drug’s use in India remains largely unregulated, with its sales increasing exponentially.
- Approved in 1998, montelukast is considered inferior to inhaled corticosteroids for asthma management and is not recommended as a first-line treatment for allergic rhinitis.
- Montelucast widely prescribed in India as
- Patients prefer oral medications.
- General lack of awareness about its potential side effects.
- The misconception of inhalers being unsafe and having addictive potential led to a preference for montelukast.
- Additionally, the drug is often combined with antihistamines in India, an unscientific practice primarily driven by profit motives.
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