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montelukast vs prednisone

Side-by-side comparison of montelukast and prednisone. 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)] .

Recommendation: You can take these medications together at your normal doses without needing any adjustments.

Drug Class
montelukast Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist
prednisone Corticosteroid
Type
montelukast Prescription
prednisone Prescription
Summary
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.

prednisone

Prednisone is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation in the body. It can treat many different conditions.

What It Treats
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.

prednisone

Prednisone treats conditions like arthritis, severe allergies, asthma, skin problems, and certain cancers. It can also help with lung diseases and problems with your hormone levels. Prednisone can also be used to reduce protein in the urine due to kidney problems.

How It Works
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.

prednisone

Prednisone is a corticosteroid that works by decreasing inflammation. It suppresses your immune system, which reduces swelling and other immune responses. This helps control the symptoms of various diseases.

Common Side Effects
montelukast
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
prednisone
  • Fluid retention
  • Mood changes
  • Weight gain
  • Increased appetite
  • High blood pressure
FAERS Reports
montelukast
  • Difficulty breathing 7,724
  • Asthma 7,439
  • Tiredness 5,505
  • Headache 4,785
  • Cough 4,617
prednisone
  • Feeling tired 39,610
  • Aches and discomfort 36,922
  • Difficulty breathing 33,812
  • Joint pain 32,401
  • The condition got worse 27,785
Serious Warnings
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.

prednisone

If you take prednisone for a long time, your body may not produce enough of its own natural steroids. This can make it hard for your body to respond to stress, like during an illness or surgery. You should not stop taking prednisone suddenly, as this can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.

Pregnancy
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.

prednisone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Prednisone may harm an unborn baby. It can also pass into breast milk and may affect the nursing infant.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This montelukast vs prednisone Comparison

montelukast is classified in the Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist drug class, while prednisone sits within the Corticosteroid 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, montelukast has 30,070 submissions while prednisone has 170,530. 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 two medicines do not have a known interaction that changes how they work in your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between montelukast and prednisone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.