Singulair vs. Allegra

• Are Singulair and Allegra the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Singulair?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Allegra?
• What Is Singulair?
• What Is Allegra?
• What Drugs Interact with Singulair?
• What Drugs Interact with Allegra?
• How Should Singulair Be Taken?
• How Should Allegra Be Taken?

Singulair (montelukast) and Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) are used to treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Singulair is also used to treat asthma and to prevent exercise-induced narrowing of the airways.

Singulair and Allegra belong to different drug classes. Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist and Allegra is an antihistamine.

Singulair is available by prescription only and Allegra is available over-the-counter (OTC).

Common side effects of Singulair include:

• skin rash,
• mood changes,
• tremors,
• headache,
• stomach pain,
• heartburn,
• upset stomach,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• tooth pain,
• tiredness,
• fever,
• stuffy nose,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• and hoarseness.

Common side effects of Allegra include:

• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• upset stomach,
• muscle or back discomfort or pain,
• sleepiness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• headache, and
• menstrual cramps.

Contact your doctor if you have serious but less common side effects of Allegra including

• allergic reactions,
• fever,
• chills,
• body aches,
• cough, or
• other flu symptoms.

Singulair (montelukast) is a leukotriene receptor antagonist drug used in the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Singulair is also indicated for prevention of exercise-induced narrowing of the airways.

Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) is an antihistamine used to treat allergic symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes), and urticaria (hives).

Singulair may interact with phenobarbital or rifampin

Allegra may interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), ketoconazole, or erythromycin.

The following doses of Singulair are recommended: For adults and adolescents 15 years of age and older: one 10-mg tablet. For pediatric patients 6 to 14 years of age: one 5-mg chewable tablet. For pediatric patients 2 to 5 years of age: one 4-mg chewable tablet or one packet of 4-mg oral granules. For pediatric patients 12 to 23 months of age: one packet of 4-mg oral granules. Singulair may interact with phenobarbital or rifampin.

Allegra is available in several strengths and forms; as tablets in strengths of 30, 60 and 180 mg, as 30 mg fast orally disintegrating tablets (available in foil blister packs and labeled "ODT"; the drug should not be touched by skin as it may begin to dissolve and reduce the oral dose) and as an oral suspension of 30mg per 5 ml. The dosage is dependent on the age, weight and effectiveness of the drug; special care should be taken when prescribing this drug to infants and children to make sure the recommended dosage is given.