Singulair and weight gain

Wow, I have been gaining as well, tried to tell my doctor this, and she dismissed it, so i starting taking it again. I am already overweight, lots to due with Thyroid removal, so any more weight gain is a big concern. I do feel better seeing that my adding weight is not just in my head, so to speak. I am stopping immedietley. Enough. Thank you.

This is really interesting, I too have been taking Singulair (Montelukast) for over a year now and my weight loss has virtually come to a standstill. I work out 3-4 times a week with a trainer doing my programs, and just couldnt figure it out until I read this. Im pretty much the same now, can lose a pound or two as before it was coming off at a steady pace. So glad I read this....off to the GP to discuss.

Hello! I am thrilled to have stumbled upon this site. I have allergy induced asthma and eczema and, for six years, I have been taking Singulair and Claritin every night; and Advair as needed (very occasionally). The cocktail helped my asthma and skin symptoms tremendously but I too, experienced a 15 pound weight gain and bloating almost immediately, which I have not been able to lose to date after starting Singulair. I am also physically active, eat healthy, and have always been athletically fit (former ballerina); the gym has always been a part of my lifestyle. Outside of asthma, I am in excellent health. Until recently, I too have been attributing the weight gain and incredible bloating to the potential of age (as did my doctor, I am now 44) or possibly thyroid. I've asked my doctor if Singulair or the other two medications have been causing this issue and she said no (and they are the only medications I take.) This month I have decided to not refill my Singulair prescription as an experiment to see if I experience any change. I have stopped taking Singulair for going on three weeks now and I have lost 5 pounds and the bloating is gone completely without any change to my diet or exercise. As a result I do have to slightly increase my Advair utilization (which I am not particularly fond of since I don't like breathing anything into my lungs except oxygen). I am convinced a side effect of Singulair is weight gain and bloating and the drug company really should include it in their listed side effects. I am really disappointed as I really looked at Singulair as a miracle drug for me because it significantly improved my asthma and severe eczema. On the flip-side, it was wreaking havoc on my metabolism and digestive/gastrointestinal system.

Hello! I, too, am 44 years old. I don't believe that our age has anything to do with that much weight gain. I was on singulair for a long time & it definitely caused me to gain weight despite the amount of exercise & low calorie diet. It's nice to know that there are several of us with the same issues. Not sure how the doctors can say there is no connection between Singulair & weight gain when we are living proof. Thank you for sharing!

I agree, I am astounded that unexplained weight gain is not listed as a side effect. Fortunately my GP is understanding and I no longer take Singulair, now taking an alternative. I have started to lose a few pounds already since stopping Singulair thanks to this forum, just so many on here with simalar feedback.

I hope you find that the alternative works better than Singulair. I have decided to go the herbal route....

I have been taking Singulair for about 8 years with no problems until recently.  A few years ago I went generic with no problems.  About 3 months ago, we switched insurance providers so our mail order pharmacy switched, which means the maker of the generic switched.  I have started feeling down and depressed, which is not the norm for me.  I also started having trouble sleeping (it is 3 am as I write this) and also sometimes I have panic attacks in the middle of the night, again not the norm for me.  I have been going to the gym about 3-4 times a week for 2 years, and over the past few months I have been having trouble breathing to the point where I've started using my inhaler again.  I have also started feeling "thick", mostly around my waist and back and have noticed that I am bloated in my abdomen, neither of which I have not experienced since I have started going to the gym.  I have also noticed that my feet cramp and my ankles swell, not hugely but my ankle socks leave marks on my ankles and no, they are not too tight.  After reading this and several other posts, forums, and websites, I am highly suspicious that this is due to the change in the medication.   As I put it all together, all of the changes I have experienced started within a few weeks of taking the new generic.  I'm calling my dr tomorrow... it may be worth either getting the generic from somewhere else or paying the extra for the formulary brand.  Hope this helps someone else.

Yuck! Sorry you are having those side effects. I have found that we, as patients, have to be our own advocate. Be firm when you talk to your doctor. Good luck!

Reading all the posts/replies has answered my question, it IS the Singulair causing this rapid weight gain, I'm 58 yrs old, active, working, and a size 12/14. I weigh myself twice weekly. I've gained 7 lbs in 10 days....couldn't figure out why...then it clicked, the ONLY thing different in my life is the Singulair. I then remembered about a year ago when I took Singulair (pollen season) that the same thing happened. My fingers are swollen (fluid retention), my waistline has grown (jeans didn't zip and snap up right).
there has been no change in my diet (I rarely eat meat other than lean chicken breast, scramble my eggs, do not eat any pasta or potatoes, no ice cream, daily chocolate intake is maybe 4 junior mints after dinner). I only drink water (coffee in the morning). I haven't had any sort of weight gain like this since...wait...last pollen season when I went on Singulair...tada!....I don't care WHAT the labels say, Singular DOES cause rapid weight gain.

I went off singulair a few years ago because I couldn't afford it. Within 3 months I lost over 40 pounds! I didn't change anything with my diet or activity so there is no doubt it is what made me obese. My asthma has been bothering me again lately and I really don't want to go back on it.

how would you know it does NOT cause weight gain? All these people stating that they had weight gain withOUT increasing their calories, but because it didn't cause YOU to gain weight without eating more, you think you know what happened to other people with different biologies from you better than they cook about themselves.

I am SO glad I finally plugged in "Singulair and Weight Gain"! I am 51 years old, 4'11", a regular exerciser (everyday), have maintained my weight between 105-110 pounds since my teens, and have always had a small frame. I was put on Singulair for pet-induced asthma about 4 years ago. I have gained 20 pounds since then. To make matters worse, the weight gain is around my mid-section and back, AND it looks blubbery!! I"VE NEVER HAD THIS!! I don't have kids and never been pregnant, but my stomache now looks liked I've had at least 3 kids! My arms and neck are thick and my face looks swollen. I have problems sleeping; awaken almost every night at 2am for at least 2 hours. I am going to get off of SIngulair. I know it helps my asthma, but there MUST be something better! Thanks to all who posted.

totally disagree with this post. Prednisone does cause weight gain. I was recently put on singulair and experienced 1# per day weight gain with no change in diet. I complained to my pulmonary doctor . His response was it is not known to cause weight gain............. My scale says otherwise

I am so glad I researched for "singulair and weight gain" and it brought me to your postings. I was wondering why I keep gaining weight when I hardly eat now, dance 2x a week, do exercises at home and yet I cannot get rid of this weight. I am bloated, I only eat salads and I even think I am still gaining. Thank you all for sharing. I am going to stop my Singulair. I thought my bloating was from a gynecological (ovary, bladder, and uterus) disorder that I have to go for ultrasound but with all your postings, I am convinced it is a Singulair disorder.

Interest reading. 

My husband is 74 years old and suffers from really bad COPD. diabetes, and congestive heart failure.  We ask his lung doctor about an allergy medicine for mild allergy symptoms and he prescribed Singulair.  After 4 days my husband was miserable with added water retention.  Did it start gathering before the Singulair...can't rule it out, but I quit giving him the Singulair and have been doubling his lasix for a couple of days.  After reading all your stories I can say he won't be getting in more Singulair under my watch, just in case!