What it's used for
Montelukast sodium tablets are used for the long-term control and chronic treatment of asthma, acute prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, and relief of symptoms of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis in patients 15 years and older.
Source: U.S. FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA).
Typical dosing
For asthma, the dose is taken once daily in the evening for patients 15 years and older. For preventing exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, one tablet is taken at least 2 hours before exercise.
Dosing shown here is the general FDA-labeled range. Your prescribing clinician determines the exact dose, form, and schedule for you — this is not a substitute for medical advice.
Boxed warning / key safety info
Serious neuropsychiatric events, including agitation, aggression, depression, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts and behavior, have been reported with montelukast use.
Common side effects
The most common side effects include upper respiratory infection, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms.
Covered strengths on the Tab $0 list
Covered at $0 with an active Tab membership when filled at a participating pharmacy nationwide or through mail order. A licensed clinician must prescribe the medication.
Related medications
Other asthma & respiratory medications covered at $0 with an active Tab membership.
Montelukast cost without insurance
Cash prices for Montelukast without insurance vary widely by pharmacy, strength and quantity — the same prescription can cost very different amounts at two pharmacies in the same town. That is the problem a membership solves.
Montelukast is on Tab's covered $0 generic list. With an active Tab membership, every covered strength is $0 — not a percentage off, not a coupon that changes month to month — at participating pharmacies nationwide or through mail order. You do not need insurance, and Tab works whether or not you have a health plan.
Tab is a membership, not insurance. Covered medications require a prescription from a licensed clinician.
Montelukast dosage and administration
Administration (by indications): • Asthma ( 2.1 ): Once daily in the evening for patients 2 years and older. • Acute prevention of EIB ( 2.2 ): One tablet at least 2 hours before exercise for patients 6 years of age and older. • Seasonal allergic rhinitis ( 2.3 ): Once daily for patients 2 years and older. • Perennial allergic rhinitis ( 2.3 ): Once daily for patients 2 years and older. Dosage (by age) ( 2 ): • 15 years and older: one 10-mg tablet. • 6 to 14 years: one 5-mg chewable tablet. • 2 to 5 years: one 4-mg chewable tablet. Patients with both asthma and allergic rhinitis should take only one dose daily in the evening ( 2.4 ). 2.1 Asthma Montelukast sodium should be taken once daily in the evening. The following doses are recommended: For adults and adolescents 15 years of age and older: one 10-mg tablet.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Your prescribing clinician decides the exact dose, form and schedule for you — this is not medical advice.
Montelukast side effects
Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% and greater than placebo listed in descending order of frequency): upper respiratory infection, fever, headache, pharyngitis, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, otitis media, influenza, rhinorrhea, sinusitis, otitis ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hetero Labs Limited at 1-866-495-1995 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . See 17 for PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION and Medication Guide. Revised: 05/2020 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. This is not a complete list. Report side effects to your clinician, and seek care for anything severe or unexpected.
Montelukast drug interactions
No dose adjustment is needed when montelukast sodium is co-administered with theophylline, prednisone, prednisolone, oral contraceptives, terfenadine, digoxin, warfarin, gemfibrozil, itraconazole, thyroid hormones, sedative hypnotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, benzodiazepines, decongestants, and Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme inducers [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] .
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Tell your clinician and pharmacist about every medication, supplement and over-the-counter product you take.
Who should not take montelukast
• Hypersensitivity to any component of this product. • Hypersensitivity to any component of this product ( 4 ).
Excerpt from the FDA-approved prescribing information (openFDA), retrieved 2026-09-15. Whether this medication is appropriate for you is a clinical decision made by your prescribing clinician.
Common questions
Is montelukast covered at $0 with Tab?
Yes. Montelukast is on Tab's covered $0 generic list — every covered strength is $0 with an active membership, at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order.
Do I need insurance to get montelukast through Tab?
No. Tab is a membership, not insurance. Covered medications are $0 with an active membership whether or not you have a health plan.
How do I get a montelukast prescription with Tab?
Book a video visit with a licensed Tab clinician (unlimited visits are included with membership). If it's clinically appropriate, they send the prescription to your chosen participating pharmacy or by mail order.
How much does montelukast cost without insurance?
Without insurance, retail cash prices for montelukast vary by pharmacy, strength and quantity. Montelukast is on Tab's covered $0 generic list, so every covered strength is $0 with an active Tab membership at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order.
What is the cheapest way to get montelukast?
For medications on Tab's covered list, a Tab membership is the cheapest route: covered strengths of montelukast are $0 with an active membership, and unlimited video visits with a licensed clinician are included, so the visit that produces the prescription is covered too.
What is the usual dose of montelukast?
Administration (by indications): • Asthma ( 2.1 ): Once daily in the evening for patients 2 years and older. • Acute prevention of EIB ( 2.2 ): One tablet at least 2 hours before exercise for patients 6 years of age and older. • Seasonal allergic rhinitis ( 2.3 ): Once daily for patients 2 years and older. • Perennial allergic rhinitis ( 2.3 ): Once daily for patients 2 years and older. (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15. Your clinician sets your dose.)
What are the side effects of montelukast?
Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥5% and greater than placebo listed in descending order of frequency): upper respiratory infection, fever, headache, pharyngitis, cough, abdominal pain, diarrhea, otitis media, influenza, rhinorrhea, sinusitis, otitis ( 6.1 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Hetero Labs Limited at 1-866-495-1995 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15.)
What interacts with montelukast?
No dose adjustment is needed when montelukast sodium is co-administered with theophylline, prednisone, prednisolone, oral contraceptives, terfenadine, digoxin, warfarin, gemfibrozil, itraconazole, thyroid hormones, sedative hypnotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, benzodiazepines, decongestants, and Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme inducers [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )] . (FDA-approved label, retrieved 2026-09-15. Tell your clinician about every medication and supplement you take.)
Montelukast is $0 on the covered list
Members pay $0 for covered generics at participating pharmacies nationwide or by mail order — plus unlimited virtual primary care, urgent care and dermatology visits. No insurance needed.
Solo $49/mo · Family $119/mo for up to 4 people · Family+ $149/mo for up to 8
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