Two medicines, side by side
Chlorpheniramine vs montelukast
Chlorpheniramine and montelukast are both labeled for allergies. Drugs@FDA records approvals of chlorpheniramine since 1949 and of montelukast since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.0177 per allergy 4 mg tablet and $0.0419 per montelukast sod 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, chlorpheniramine is a histamine-1 receptor antagonist and montelukast a leukotriene receptor antagonist.
Check it at the source: the chlorpheniramine FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 19, 2018); the montelukast FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 30, 2025).
Highlights of the chlorpheniramine record
Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) · label of December 19, 2018
Used for
From the label: indicationstemporarily relieves the following symptoms due to hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies: sneezing runny nose itchy, watery eyes itching of the nose or throat
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 13, 1949
- Generic labelers
- 2 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0177 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the montelukast record
Montelukast (Singulair) · label of April 30, 2025
SERIOUS NEUROPSYCHIATRIC EVENTS Serious neuropsychiatric (NP) events have been reported with the use of SINGULAIR. The types of events reported were highly variable, and included, but were not limited to, agitation, aggression, depression, sleep disturbances, suicidal thoughts and behavior (including suicide). The mechanisms underlying NP events associated with SINGULAIR use are currently not well understood [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ].
Used for
From the label: indicationsSINGULAIR is a leukotriene receptor antagonist indicated for: Prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in patients 12 months of age and older ( 1.1 ). Acute prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in patients 6 years of age and older ( 1.2 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 20, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 36 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0419 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 11
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Chlorpheniramine label of December 19, 2018, Montelukast label of April 30, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do chlorpheniramine and montelukast differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, chlorpheniramine is a histamine-1 receptor antagonist and montelukast a leukotriene receptor antagonist.
Only the montelukast label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: chlorpheniramine since 1972; montelukast since 2012 (Drugs@FDA).
| Chlorpheniramine | Montelukast | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Allergies | Asthma, Allergies |
| Pharmacologic class | Histamine-1 Receptor Antagonist | Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | The cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC 4 , LTD 4 , LTE 4 ) are products of arachidonic acid metabolism and are released from various cells, including mast cells and eosinophils. These eicosanoids bind to cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) receptors. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | In several studies, the mean plasma half-life of montelukast ranged from 2.7 to 5.5 hours in healthy young adults. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 13, 1949 | February 20, 1998 |
| First generic approved | May 9, 1972 | August 3, 2012 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 2 labelers | 36 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0177 per tablet (Allergy 4 mg tablet) | $0.0419 per tablet (Montelukast sod 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +8% | -20% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 11 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 6,553 | 174,997 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to chlorpheniramine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions