If you are taking MONTE-AIR, or giving it to your child, it helps to understand what the medicine is for, how to use it correctly, and when to get medical advice. MONTE-AIR contains montelukast sodium, a medicine used to help control asthma. In adults using it for asthma, it may also help with symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly called hay fever.
Quick facts: MONTE-AIR is taken once daily in the evening, with or without food, exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It is not for fast relief during an asthma attack. You or your child should still keep the prescribed inhaled rescue medicine nearby for asthma attacks.
The scheduling status in the source is S3.
What it is and what it is used for
MONTE-AIR contains the active ingredient montelukast sodium. It belongs to a group of medicines called leukotriene receptor antagonists. This means it blocks substances in the body called leukotrienes.
MONTE-AIR is available in different forms and strengths:
- MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablets for adults and adolescents 15 years and older
- MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablets for children 6 to 14 years
- MONTE-AIR 4 mg chewable tablets for children 2 to 5 years
- MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES for children 2 to 5 years
MONTE-AIR is used for:
- Prevention and treatment of asthma in adults and children, depending on the correct age-appropriate strength.
- Some symptomatic relief of seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, in adult patients who are using MONTE-AIR for asthma.
MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablets have not been studied for seasonal hay fever in children with asthma.
How it works
Your body can make substances called leukotrienes. In asthma, leukotrienes can cause the airways in the lungs to become narrower and swollen. This can make breathing more difficult and may contribute to asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.
MONTE-AIR works by blocking leukotrienes. By doing this, it helps improve asthma symptoms and helps prevent asthma attacks.
Leukotrienes can also play a part in allergy symptoms. Blocking them may improve allergic rhinitis symptoms, including seasonal and perennial nasal allergies. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often linked to outdoor triggers, while perennial allergic rhinitis is linked to indoor triggers.
Who should NOT use this medicine
Do not use MONTE-AIR if you or your child:
- Are allergic to montelukast.
- Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in MONTE-AIR.
- Have been told not to use this medicine by your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not give MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablets to a child:
- Who is younger than 15 years, because safety and effectiveness have not been shown for that age group.
Do not give MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablets to a child:
- Who is younger than 6 years, because safety and effectiveness have not been shown for that age group.
Do not give MONTE-AIR 4 mg chewable tablets or MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES to a child:
- Who is younger than 2 years, because safety and effectiveness have not been shown for that age group.
Do not use MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablets if you or your child has the rare hereditary condition of lactose intolerance.
Do not use MONTE-AIR 4 mg or 5 mg chewable tablets without medical advice if you or your child has phenylketonuria, because these tablets contain aspartame, which is a source of phenylalanine.
Warnings and precautions
Read before use
MONTE-AIR must be taken carefully and consistently. It is meant to help control asthma over time. It is not a replacement for all other asthma medicines, and it must not be used as the medicine for sudden asthma attacks.
Warning: MONTE-AIR is not for immediate relief during an asthma attack. Follow the asthma attack instructions your doctor has given you, and keep the prescribed inhaled rescue medicine with you or your child.
Keep taking it as prescribed
You or your child should continue taking MONTE-AIR every day as prescribed, even when there are no asthma symptoms. You should also continue taking it if an asthma attack happens, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Asthma control depends on taking your medicine regularly. MONTE-AIR can only help treat asthma if it is taken as directed for as long as your doctor prescribes it.
Do not replace other asthma medicines
Do not stop, reduce, or change any of your or your child’s other asthma medicines unless your doctor tells you to. MONTE-AIR should not be used instead of other asthma medicines that have been prescribed.
If your doctor prescribed a medicine to use before exercise, keep using that medicine unless your doctor tells you to stop.
When asthma gets worse
Contact your doctor immediately if:
- Your or your child’s asthma symptoms become worse.
- Symptoms happen more often.
- You or your child needs to use the inhaled rescue medicine more often than usual.
These may be signs that asthma control is not good enough and that your doctor needs to review the treatment plan.
Aspirin and NSAID-sensitive asthma
If you or your child’s asthma is known to get worse with aspirin, do not take aspirin. You should also avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, called NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen.
Symptoms needing urgent medical advice
Tell your doctor immediately if you or your child develops a combination of:
- Flu-like illness
- Pins and needles
- Numbness in the arms or legs
- Worsening lung symptoms
- Rash
This combination may be linked to an increase in certain white blood cells called eosinophils and possible inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body.
Behaviour and mood changes
Behaviour and mood-related changes have been reported in people taking MONTE-AIR. Speak to your doctor if you or your child notices changes such as anxiety, sleep problems, irritability, aggression, depression, abnormal dreams, hallucinations, restlessness, tremor, sleep walking, stuttering, or other unusual changes.
Driving and using machines
MONTE-AIR may cause side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness. These can affect your ability to drive, operate machines, or do tasks that need full alertness.
Be careful until you know how MONTE-AIR affects you.
Alcohol
Not specified in the source.
Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, and breastfeeding
The safety of MONTE-AIR in pregnant and breastfeeding women has not been established.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or another healthcare provider before taking MONTE-AIR.
The source states that MONTE-AIR should not be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is also not known whether MONTE-AIR passes into human breast milk.
Interactions
Other medicines
Always tell your doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other healthcare provider about all medicines you or your child are taking. This includes:
- Prescription medicines
- Medicines bought without a prescription
- Complementary medicines
- Traditional medicines
Some medicines may affect how MONTE-AIR works. MONTE-AIR may also affect how other medicines work.
Food and drink
MONTE-AIR can be taken with or without food.
For MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES, the source gives special instructions on how to give the medicine with soft food. See the “How to take” section below.
Aspirin and ibuprofen
If you or your child has asthma that is made worse by aspirin, do not take aspirin or NSAIDs such as ibuprofen.
Laboratory tests
Increased liver enzymes have been reported in clinical studies and are detected by laboratory tests. No specific monitoring schedule is provided in the source.
How to take
Step-by-step
Take MONTE-AIR exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
General instructions:
- Take MONTE-AIR once daily.
- Take it in the evening.
- It may be taken with or without food.
- Use the strength and form prescribed for your age or your child’s age.
- Do not share this medicine with another person, even if their symptoms seem similar.
Adults and adolescents 15 years and older
For asthma treatment, the dose is:
- One MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablet each evening
Children 6 to 14 years
For asthma treatment, the dose is:
- One MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablet each evening
MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablets have not been studied in seasonal hay fever in children with asthma.
Children 2 to 5 years: chewable tablets
For asthma treatment, the dose is:
- One MONTE-AIR 4 mg chewable tablet each evening
Children 2 to 5 years: SPRINKLES
The dose is:
- One whole packet of MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES each evening
Do not open the packet until you are ready to use it.
You may give MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES in one of two ways:
- Give the whole packet directly into the child’s mouth.
- Mix the whole packet with a spoonful of cold or room-temperature soft food, such as apple sauce.
After mixing with food, give the full mixture immediately. It must be given within 15 minutes.
Warning: Do not store any MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES mixture for later use.
MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES are not meant to be dissolved in liquid. Your child may drink liquids after swallowing the SPRINKLES.
If the effect feels too strong or too weak
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you feel that MONTE-AIR is working too strongly or not strongly enough.
If you miss a dose
If you or your child forgets a dose, return to the usual schedule of one dose each evening.
Do not take, or give your child, a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
If you take too much
If you or your child takes more MONTE-AIR than prescribed, contact your doctor or pharmacist. If neither is available, contact the nearest hospital or poison control centre.
Symptoms reported most often with overdose in adults and children include:
- Abdominal pain
- Sleepiness
- Thirst
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Tremor
Dosing table
| Age group | Form and strength | Dose | Frequency | Maximum daily dose stated in source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults and adolescents 15 years and older | 10 mg film-coated tablet | One 10 mg tablet | Once daily in the evening | One 10 mg tablet daily |
| Children 6 to 14 years | 5 mg chewable tablet | One 5 mg chewable tablet | Once daily in the evening | One 5 mg chewable tablet daily |
| Children 2 to 5 years | 4 mg chewable tablet | One 4 mg chewable tablet | Once daily in the evening | One 4 mg chewable tablet daily |
| Children 2 to 5 years | SPRINKLES, 4 mg montelukast per packet | One whole packet | Once daily in the evening | One packet daily |
Possible side effects
MONTE-AIR can cause side effects. Not everyone will get them. If your or your child’s general health worsens while taking MONTE-AIR, or if you notice any unwanted effects, speak to a healthcare provider.
Common
The following side effects were frequently reported in clinical studies:
- Headache
- Thirst
- Abdominal pain
- Increased liver enzymes found through laboratory tests
Less common
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects reported with MONTE-AIR:
- Increased bleeding tendency linked to a low blood platelet count
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Pins and needles
- Reduced feeling or sensitivity, especially in the skin
- Nose bleed
- Swelling or inflammation of the lungs
- Diarrhoea
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Joint pain
- Aching muscles, including muscle cramps
- Bedwetting in children
- Swelling
- Fever
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Upper respiratory infections
Behaviour and mood-related effects
Tell your doctor immediately if you or your child notices behaviour or mood-related changes, including:
- Abnormal dreams
- Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
- Agitation, including aggressive behaviour
- Depression
- Problems with attention
- Memory problems
- Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
- Anxiety
- Inability to sleep
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Tremor
- Uncontrolled muscle movements, also called tics
- Hostility
- Disorientation
- Sleep walking
- Stuttering
Serious — seek urgent help
Stop taking MONTE-AIR and tell your doctor immediately, or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital, if you or your child has any of the following:
- A combination of flu-like illness, pins and needles or numbness of the arms or legs, worsening lung symptoms, and/or rash
- Signs of an allergic reaction, including swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Hives
- Itching
- Rash
- Bruising
- Symptoms of hepatitis, such as tiredness, abdominal discomfort, nausea, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
- Thoughts of suicide
- Attempted actions of suicide
- Seizure or fits
These may be serious side effects and may need urgent medical care or hospital treatment.
Reporting side effects in South Africa
If you get side effects, speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. You may also report side effects to SAHPRA using the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form” available under SAHPRA publications.
Storage and disposal
Store MONTE-AIR:
- At or below 30 °C
- Protected from moisture
- Protected from light
- Out of the reach and sight of children
Do not use MONTE-AIR after the month and year shown after Exp./Verv. on the carton.
Return unused medicine to your pharmacist. Do not throw unused medicine into drains, toilets, or the sewerage system.
Special storage and use instructions for SPRINKLES
Do not open a MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES packet until you are ready to give the dose.
The full dose must be given immediately. If mixed with food, it must be given within 15 minutes and must not be stored for later.
What the medicine contains
Active ingredient
MONTE-AIR contains montelukast sodium as the active ingredient.
Each form contains:
- MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablet: 10 mg montelukast
- MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablet: 5 mg montelukast
- MONTE-AIR 4 mg chewable tablet: 4 mg montelukast
- MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES: 4 mg montelukast per packet
Other ingredients
MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablets contain:
- Carnauba wax
- Croscarmellose sodium
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Lactose monohydrate
- Magnesium stearate
- Methyl hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Red ferric oxide
- Titanium dioxide
- Yellow ferric oxide
MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablets contain sugar in the form of lactose monohydrate.
MONTE-AIR 5 mg and 4 mg chewable tablets contain:
- Artificial cherry flavour
- Aspartame
- Croscarmellose sodium
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Magnesium stearate
- Mannitol
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Red ferric oxide
MONTE-AIR 5 mg and 4 mg chewable tablets contain sugar in the form of mannitol and aspartame.
MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES contain:
- Hydroxypropyl cellulose
- Magnesium stearate
- Mannitol
MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES contain sugar in the form of mannitol.
Pack information and appearance
MONTE-AIR is supplied in different forms.
| Product | Appearance | Pack information |
|---|---|---|
| MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablets | Beige, rounded square film-coated tablet, engraved with “MSD 117” on one side | OPA/Al/PVC blister packs of 14 and 28 |
| MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablets | Pink, round, biconvex tablet, engraved with “MSD 275” on one side | OPA/Al/PVC blister packs of 14 and 28 |
| MONTE-AIR 4 mg chewable tablets | Pink, oval, biconvex tablet with cherry taste and odour, engraved with “MSD 711” on one side | OPA/Al/PVC blister packs of 14 and 28 |
| MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES | White, granular, coarse, free-flowing homogenous solid, with no extraneous particles | 500 mg net weight foil packets in cartons of 28 or 30 packets |
The holder of the Certificate of Registration is MSD (Pty) Ltd, South Africa.
The registration numbers listed in the source are:
- MONTE-AIR 10 mg film-coated tablets: 44/10.2.2/0061
- MONTE-AIR 5 mg chewable tablets: 44/10.2.2/0060
- MONTE-AIR 4 mg chewable tablets: 44/10.2.2/0059
- MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES: 44/10.2.2/0062
Practical FAQs
Can I use MONTE-AIR during an asthma attack?
No. MONTE-AIR is not for immediate relief during an asthma attack. Use the asthma attack treatment your doctor has given you, and keep your inhaled rescue medicine with you.
Should I take MONTE-AIR even when I feel well?
Yes. You or your child should take it every day as prescribed, even when there are no asthma symptoms. This helps maintain asthma control.
Can I stop my other asthma medicines once I start MONTE-AIR?
No. Do not stop or reduce other asthma medicines unless your doctor tells you to. MONTE-AIR should not replace medicines your doctor has prescribed for asthma.
Can MONTE-AIR be taken with food?
Yes. MONTE-AIR can be taken with or without food.
What time of day should I take MONTE-AIR?
Take it once daily in the evening, as prescribed by your doctor.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Return to the usual schedule of one dose each evening. Do not take or give a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Can I give MONTE-AIR SPRINKLES in a drink?
No. The SPRINKLES are not intended to be dissolved in liquid. They can be given directly into the mouth or mixed with a spoonful of cold or room-temperature soft food. Your child may drink liquids after swallowing them.
How quickly must my child take the SPRINKLES after mixing with food?
Give the full mixture immediately, within 15 minutes. Do not keep any mixture for later.
Can I drive while taking MONTE-AIR?
Be careful. MONTE-AIR may cause drowsiness or dizziness, which can affect driving or using machines.
What should I do if I notice mood or behaviour changes?
Tell your doctor immediately. Changes such as anxiety, depression, aggression, sleep problems, hallucinations, restlessness, tremor, sleep walking, or suicidal thoughts have been reported.
Sources :
Written by: RxZest Editorial Team
Editorial review: Checked for readability, structure, and source alignment
Based on SAHPRA-approved information : Monte-Air
Last updated: [01/05/2026]
