gemfibrozil vs montelukast

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Side-by-side comparison of gemfibrozil and montelukast. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

DRUG INTERACTIONS No dose adjustment is needed when montelukast sodium is co-administered with theophylline, prednisone, prednisolone, oral contraceptives, terfenadine, digoxin, warfarin, gemfibrozil, itraconazole, thyroid hormones, sedative hypnotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, benzodiazepines, decongestants, and Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme inducers [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] .

Drug Class
gemfibrozil Fibrate
montelukast Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist
Type
gemfibrozil Prescription
montelukast Prescription
Summary
gemfibrozil

Gemfibrozil is a medicine that helps lower high triglyceride levels in your blood. It can also help reduce the risk of heart disease in some people.

montelukast

Montelukast is a medicine that helps control asthma and allergies. It works by blocking certain natural substances in your body that cause asthma and allergy symptoms.

What It Treats
gemfibrozil

This medicine is used to treat very high triglyceride levels in adults when diet alone doesn't work. High triglycerides can increase your risk of pancreatitis. Gemfibrozil can also lower the risk of heart disease in some people with specific cholesterol problems.

montelukast

Montelukast is used to prevent asthma symptoms and treat long-term asthma. It can also prevent breathing problems caused by exercise. Additionally, it helps relieve symptoms of allergies like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes, both seasonal and year-round.

How It Works
gemfibrozil

Gemfibrozil belongs to a class of drugs called fibrates. It works by decreasing the amount of triglycerides your body makes. It also helps to increase HDL (good) cholesterol.

montelukast

This medicine blocks leukotrienes, which are substances your body releases that cause swelling in the lungs and tightening of the muscles around your airways. By blocking these substances, montelukast helps you breathe easier. It also reduces allergy symptoms.

Common Side Effects
gemfibrozil
  • Upset stomach
  • Indigestion
  • Abdominal pain
montelukast
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
FAERS Reports
gemfibrozil
  • Nausea 883
  • Fatigue 825
  • Diarrhoea 726
  • Pain 693
  • Dizziness 617
montelukast
  • Dyspnoea 7,723
  • Asthma 7,439
  • Fatigue 5,505
  • Headache 4,786
  • Cough 4,617
Serious Warnings
gemfibrozil

This medicine may increase your risk of gallbladder problems, including the need for surgery. Before taking gemfibrozil, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. You should not take this medicine with simvastatin, repaglinide, dasabuvir, or selexipag.

montelukast

Do not use montelukast to treat a sudden asthma attack. Always have your rescue medicine with you. Do not suddenly stop taking steroid medicines if you are also taking montelukast. Some patients have experienced changes in behavior or mood, including suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice these changes.

Pregnancy
gemfibrozil

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if gemfibrozil can harm your unborn baby. It is also not known if gemfibrozil passes into breast milk.

montelukast

If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking montelukast. It is not known if montelukast passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

Compare gemfibrozil with

How to Read This gemfibrozil vs montelukast Comparison

gemfibrozil is classified in the Fibrate drug class, while montelukast sits within the Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, gemfibrozil has 3,744 submissions while montelukast has 30,070. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these drugs do not have a meaningful impact on how the body breaks each other down.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for gemfibrozil or montelukast.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.