Singulair and weight gain

I can relate to all of these posts as well. I have been on Singulair for a few years and have gained at least 10 pounds per year since on this medication. I thought my steady weight gain was caused by HRT, so I got off of them last year, hoping to be able to lose the weight. I have not been able to lose more than 6 or 8 pounds with a faithful, healthy diet and exercise and it is driving me crazy as well. Time to get off of the Singulair to see what happens.

no I haven't changed my eating habits and I exercise 90 minutes a day every day I am a certified personal trainer and I keep a food diary I know it is the singular it is underreported by people who use it

Bad drug. My father was put on singulair generic recently and we noticed a mood change. When I googled side effects I saw all the weight gain comments. I went on singulair about five years ago and I too gained way more weight in a short amount of time than ever before. I quit the drug and the weight has leveled off but I can't lose it even after going to watermelon for breakfast for a year. My father on the other hand gained a lot of weight.

I have put on at least 20 pounds in about 3 months. My eating habits have not changed and I've continued to exercise regularly. The only change is I took two rounds of prednisone followed by a combination of zyrtek and singulair. I can't seem to loose it even with increasing my exercise. I'm contemplating ceasing the medications and seeing what happens.

GUEST
I have been taking Singulair for many years. Recently my Asthma returned
(uncontrollable coughing). I went back to my Allergist and he put me back on Singulair along with a sinus rinse and nasal spray. Well I felt great but noticed I have gain at least 20lbs. I am so glad I read this message board.
I am definitely coming off of this immediately. I will be seriously talking to my doctor and showing him some of these posts. I was thinking of going for Body Sculping (expensive) but don't want to waste money if it won't help. Has any done this...tired of looking so bloated.

I wrote this post almost one day ago. I am serious about finding out why this drug is causing bloating, and other ailments. I decided to call or send a message to Merck the makers of this drug. They can be reached at: To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., at 1-877- 888-4231 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. It's a start!!!

I've experienced weight gain on Singulair also been on it for about 5 years also on Symbicort 2 xs a day. For 7 years that can cause weight gain Omg !! I need to find a good diet !!!

Omg!! I bloat also. I NEED TO RESEARCH ABOUT SINGULAIR.

I agree I've always been thin and since starting singular I have gained so much weight and I know I haven't been eating any more than usual it's making me nuts and it's mostly in the belly area. Even steroids while making me hungry never put that kind of weight on.

It's been such a relief to read all the posts from people of all ages. I thought I was going mad as I have put on kilos not pounds! In the 2 years that I have been on Meds, (1 year now on Singular) I have gained 16kg around 40lbs. And yes i told my doctor and asked if it's because of the medication...I also have been on Fexofedimine and I take Perdisonol when having severe reaction to allergens. I made the choice to be medicated daily after a near fatal attack of chronic urticaria/ Angioedema & anaphylactic shock after 29min of the atrack. But it was not brought on by an allergy attack (which is what doctors at the time said it was....and I told them I didn't eat anything unusual etc etc) I had what a Dr later diagnosed as Spontaneous Angioedema. After a lot of reading and investigating this because at age 40 then (4 years ago) it was the 5th time that I had swelled up in my life where I needed adrenalin shots etc etc. But that time was different because the others I had done hair dye & then 24 hours later I reacted on my face, scalp, head and neck...and this time I had swelling on every limb, and all head/face/neck... and turned purple... but no hair dye.
Tomorrow I am going to an allergy clinic for testing as its neen 2 years..i researhed and found this great one..with excellent specialist there. I believe I have MCSD and MCSD (Mast Cell activatiin disorder and multiple chemical sensitivity ...) I have a mask that I wear in town, I live in London UK, the pollution makes me very sick/sneezy/eyes watering..and if no mask then hello swollen self. No thank you!!
Also, for 2 days now I stopped my Singular and Fexofedimine...and my Montelukast..(forgot I take that one too) & my horrible hunger has diminished...
I notice a HUGE difference in my need to eat, my appetite and my energy levels. Some of the people below said they are eating the same and still gaining and I am relieved to hear that and it's terrible that doctors don't believe you! I not positive but I would like to believe and part of me does ..that 60 % of my weight gain is my extra eating and the rest is from the meds. Because even when I was pregnant 19 years ago and I was eating triple the amount I am now...I reached the weight I am now at the end of my pregnancy!! And this was what struck me as bizarre. And now in writing this I am even confirming it to myself!!
Yes I took these all to keep me from becoming a swollen and dead person...alive and bigger is better than dead. But being on them all and an anti-depressant..you can understand that these 4 medicines have all made me out on this 16kg over the last 2 years. But they have saved my life. And I hope I can survive without them!!. The weight gain is hurting you back, badly, I can't wear any of my clothes and I am developing more illness by eating my way through the day like there's no tomorrrow!!
I'm damaging my spine and organs ...and I was once a fitness professional. 7kg ago people said I looked well and healthy (lol I ws always with model physique before so perhaps 8 kg at start made me look better!)

Well i took control in Jan, started weaning of my meds and I'm on a low histamine diet ... my plan is to get off every single medication (all 4 that is!) And I am confident my energy levels will return after how I felt today, I'm sure of it. And yes many new fat cells have been produced but exercise + healthy eating plan (for me low histamine one) can only have one effect and that is it will decrease my body fat percentage. That is what is stored in all that tummy and back fat a lot of people wrote about. Any let over its looking or some other fat removal invasive measure ! (as yes new fat cells won't go, once full, they multiply and you end up with more than you started with... but they can't 'go' hence many below stating that. It's a fact they are all right. And sadly only cure is as I say invasive removal)

I will end there. And say to anyone reading this, to try natural remedies...try avoiding the things that trigger attacks Wether it be Asma or allergies ...prevention is the cure.
LiKE- Stay away from things & food & places that trigger you and don't take the medication route (unless it's to keep you alive - then take it at that point only but NOT long term!)
I hope that sharing my story may help others.
Be well :) S.F

Hi... I woke a long 'article' below... I'm on 4 meds and coming off them. I the it's great that you are contacting the makers. They should list weight gain as a side affect. If I can help I will but I'm on so many meds ... probably no use :( ..all the best SF.

Hi... please read my post as I mentioned at the end about evasive body fat loss. As long as you are off meds after surgery and as long as you don't consume more than you burn.. then removal of fay will stay gone.
Hope that helps and my post!
Best regards, S.F

Hey it's me again. So far since starting singulair/monoluekast in 2015, I have gained over 40 pounds. I stopped taking it once I saw this post. I have finally leveled off and stopped gaining. Periodically I would take it, when I did, I immediately gained 2lbs and never lost them. It's like it sets a trigger in your body to make you store fat.

I had been miserable with allergies before singular and that's why I didn't want to stop taking it. However!.... I have found something that may interest some of you. I once read that low cortisol levels can affect allergies, especially at night. Cortisol can affect inflammation in your body. So I got my cortisol levels checked and sure enough, I was extremely low!! I take a pill from a compound pharmacy with cortisol, ashwa, and ginger. Omg. The first couple days I noticed my night time sever allergies had diminished!! If I miss a day or run out of pills, I can immediately tell because I get the itchy ears and allergy symptoms throughout my day. If your allergies kick up at night- this could be why. Your cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day, having a high amount in the morning and it lowers throughout the day. So make sure you do the cortisol testing for 3-4 different times throughout the day. My levels said that I woke up with the same amount of cortisol that other people are going to sleep with. Crazy.

I'm still working on losing this singulair weight... I have lost 4 pounds in the past 2 months. For those of you struggling with this too, you understand what a feat it is.

I hope to update you in the future with even more good news.

Hi, I have been taking Montekulast for about 2 months after winter bug related asthma wouldn't clear up with usual inhaled or oral steroids. Apart from the vivid dream have been fine until a week or two ago when I've started getting nearly constant stomach pains and eczema type rash on my upper back. Is it common to not get any side effects for ages then start getting them? Or could this be another cause?

You're wrong about eating more. I eat the same thing everyday, but gained weight since taking this med.