Singulair may benefit acute asthma too

Singulair, a common asthma medication used to block leukotrienes from causing an allergic reaction and bronchospasm, may also be beneficial in the treatment of acute asthma symptoms. At least that's according to a new study of 87 adults and published here at the Pulse.

While 10 mg of Singular is the daily therapeutic dose, this study proposes using 10mg during an asthma exacerbation above the current dose. Compared with placebo, those given Singulair had "significant" improvement in their pulmonary function testing the next day.

Since Singulair is easy to take and is relatively safe, this might be an easy and safe alternative, or at least something else to try.

The question I have regarding this study is this: what is defined as significant. The exact percent of the 87 participants who took singulair was not noted in the Post study. Likewise, the exact percent of those who took singulair who showed improved PFT results was not listed either.

At present I have been unable to find the original study online.

Singulair has already been approved (see link) to prevent exercise induced asthma in patients 15 years of agae and older.  The FDA recommends the medicine be taken 2 hours before exercise.

Although Singulair's use this way is not over and above a daily dose of Singulair.  According to experts, if you already take a daily dose of Singulair, you should not take an extra dose before exercising. 

Likewise, at present, Singulair is approved for use to pretreat to prevent EIB, and it's also approved as a daily asthma preventative medicine.  It is not yet, however, approved as a medicine to treat acute asthma symptoms.