Last week my one-year approval for a "non-standard" dose of Singulair (30mg/day) ran out.  Fortunately, my doctor was able to contact my insurance company very quickly and got it re-approved.  However... he mentioned an interesting alternative to me that I wanted to pass on in case it helps somebody else.  Instead of taking 30mg/day of Singulair, he said I could take a standard dose of Singulair plus a standard dose of another leukotriene inhibitor... Zyflo or Accolate.  He did that for another patient whose insurance company wouldn't approve the higher dose of Singulair.  It's an idea I'm keeping in the back of my mind!  I already combine different types of H1/H2 antihistamines... it seems like combining different types of leukotriene inhibitors should be just as safe and effective.

Heather

Great idea, but do check side effects.  Some have more than Singulair does in a number of patients.

Zyflo, Accolate, and Singulair each do something slightly different from the others. All inhibit, one way or another, the effects of leukotrienes.

Accolate and Singulair block receptors for leukotriene C4 (LTC4), LTD4, and LTE4, and some other inflammatory chemicals in the leukotriene family. Blockage is not complete as not all receptors for these mediators (chemicals) are blocked.
Zyflo blocks the activity of an enzyme (5-lipoxygenase) that produces the leukotriene family of mediators.

So - Zyflo may give better relief of symptoms than the other two, and there should be no problem in combining any of the three. Just be sure you read the side-effect statements and drug interactions on these before you get them filled. Lots of people take them with no problem. Their safety profile is not as good as for the antihistamines, though, and you should be aware of this.

Nancy

Joan, Singulair is intended for long-term use, so your son is probably doing well with it. I know one side-effect is "vivid dreams" although those dreams are usually good ones - long, story-type dreams that are interesting to remember next day.

Here is the side-effect list from the singuliar website:
SINGULAIR may cause serious side effects. Behavior and mood-related changes have been reported: agitation including aggressive behavior or hostility, bad or vivid dreams, depression, disorientation (confusion), feeling anxious, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there), irritability, restlessness, sleepwalking, suicidal thoughts and actions (including suicide), tremor, and trouble sleeping

I have not heard of anyone having problems with it. I took it for long while and it really helped me! I have only of heard extremely positive results from people who take it. Everyone is different, or course.

Hi. I am pretty sure that Claritin is just a histamine blocker and histamine blockers can be taken with singulair. I took, zantac, zyrtec, allegra and singulair all at the same time for a year or two. I no longer have the symptom that the singulair was helping with, so i stopped taking it. I take it whenever I am feeling ill, though, and I am not getting enough relief from doubling my allegra or zyrtec.

Have you tried allegra instead of claritin? I just don't have a high opinon of claritin being effective at all. I don't seem to get drowsy from the meds, although I do think that they sap my energy somewhat. I can deal with that, though. I believe that allegra is not supposed to cause drowsiness in people.

Does anyone know if I can split a singulair in 1/2 to take it for the first time? I have had the samples for several weeks and I'm so scared to take one. I seem to be so sensitive to medications lately and somehow it makes me feel better to start of slow with a smaller amount.

thanks,
Kristi

I am going to try Singulair again, but had GERD problems when I took it last time (helped otherwise).  I am wondering if the other alternatives mentioned might not cause me to end up with GERD.  I also get GERD with Allegra....eessh, sometimes I feel like I fix one problem and end up another.  Right now taking zyrtec and zantac combo which helps but does not cover all my symptoms when it is so hot outside (worst trigger for me...flushing, then fibro like ache, IC flares, asthma type symptoms, drainage, brain fog)