Montair Plus

Quick links to important sections

Montair Plus

Treatment option:

Medically reviewed

Rosario Oropesa

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Montair Plus

Property Description
Active ingredient Montelukast and Bambuterol
Form Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) Oral Tablet
Pharmacological class Anti-asthmatic and Antiallergic Agents
Origin Synthetic Compound
Route of administration Oral (Systemic)

What Type of Medicine is Montair Plus?

Montair Plus is a Fixed-Dose Combination (FDC) oral tablet classified as an Anti-asthmatic and Antiallergic Agent. This preparation is a synthetic, prescription-only medicine designed for systemic administration, meaning its active components deliver their therapeutic effects throughout the body. The FDC structure is used to improve long-term patient compliance by consolidating two necessary treatments into a single oral preparation.

Composition: Montelukast and Bambuterol

The medicine is composed of two primary Active Ingredients [INN]: Montelukast and Bambuterol. Montelukast is a Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist, which helps control inflammation. Bambuterol is a pro-drug for the long-acting β2-agonist Terbutaline, which provides sustained relaxation of the bronchial muscles. This combination offers a synergistic effect, treating both the tightening of the airways and the underlying inflammation concurrently.

What is the General Purpose of This Combination Product?

The general purpose of Montair Plus is to provide comprehensive, long-term control and maintenance support for chronic respiratory conditions characterized by persistent breathing difficulties and associated allergic inflammation. The combination leverages the dual action of airway relaxation from the Bambuterol component and inflammation inhibition from the Montelukast component. This strategy is typically employed for patients requiring ongoing, sustained management of complex respiratory symptoms.

What side effects are possible with Montair Plus?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

Montair Plus is a combination medication containing montelukast and bambuterol. Its safety profile is based on the known risks and common adverse reactions associated with these two active ingredients.

Serious and Clinically Significant Safety Concerns

The most significant safety concern associated with the montelukast component is the potential for serious neuropsychiatric (mood and behavior) side effects, which is highlighted by a prominent regulatory warning in some jurisdictions (e.g., FDA Boxed Warning). These adverse reactions can include agitation, aggressive behavior, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances (e.g., abnormal dreams, insomnia, sleepwalking), tremors, and, rarely, suicidal thoughts and actions.

  • Acute Asthma: This medicine is not intended for use in treating acute asthma attacks or sudden shortness of breath; a separate rescue inhaler is required for this purpose.

Common Adverse Reactions

The most commonly reported side effects typically involve the nervous, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems. These include:

  • Nervous System & Musculoskeletal: Tremors, nervousness, headache, dizziness, insomnia, and muscle cramps.
  • Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
  • Infections: Upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngitis, cough, and flu-like symptoms.

Some effects, such as nervousness and tremors, are particularly related to the beta-agonist activity of the bambuterol component.

Population and Disease-Specific Safety Considerations

  • Neuropsychiatric History: Patients with a history of depression or other mental health problems should be monitored closely, as the medication may worsen these conditions.
  • Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Safety has not been definitively established during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Use in these periods is only considered when the potential benefit is determined to outweigh the potential risk, and it requires medical consultation.
  • Underlying Conditions: Caution and dose adjustments may be necessary for patients with underlying liver disease, kidney disease, or severe heart conditions. The bambuterol component requires careful monitoring in patients with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or hypokalemia (low blood potassium).
  • Driving/Operating Machinery: Due to the potential for side effects like dizziness, sleep disturbances, or decreased alertness, caution is advised when driving or operating machinery until the individual knows how the drug affects them.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory information for Montair Plus (a combination of Montelukast and Levocetirizine) indicates that no specific data exists for overdosage of the combined product. Management is based on the known profiles of the individual components.

Documented Overdose Manifestations

Symptoms reported in cases of acute overdose with the components include:

Component Reported Symptoms
Montelukast Somnolence, abdominal pain, thirst, headache, vomiting, psychomotor hyperactivity (in children).
Levocetirizine Drowsiness/somnolence (adults); initial agitation and restlessness followed by drowsiness (children).

Emergency Response and Management

Immediate medical help is required following the ingestion of an overdose to receive supportive care. The official regulatory response statements mandate that usual supportive measures be employed and that unabsorbed material be removed from the gastrointestinal tract.

There is no known specific antidote for Levocetirizine overdose. Management is symptomatic and supportive. Neither Montelukast nor Levocetirizine is known to be effectively removed by dialysis, constraining procedural instructions to non-specific supportive treatment and continuous clinical monitoring.

Therapeutic Uses of Montair Plus

What Montair Plus Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Montair Plus is a long-term maintenance medicine that is generally applied in contexts involving chronic respiratory and allergic conditions. It is commonly used when supportive symptom management is appropriate and is indicated for chronic, rather than acute, symptom management.

The active components are utilized in the chronic treatment of conditions characterized by periods of heightened symptoms. The combination is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed for symptoms related to physical discomfort, such as wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

The medication is commonly used across conditions presenting with inflammatory or irritative processes associated with chronic asthma and allergic rhinitis (both seasonal and perennial types). It is also relevant for easing symptoms that become more disruptive during episodes, such as those caused by physical exertion. The combination generally supports the patient during difficult episodes by easing distress and contributes to improved day-to-day comfort during symptomatic periods.


Quick Fact: Relief for Persistent Breathing Difficulties and Recurrent Allergic Symptoms


Regulatory References

  1. NIH MedlinePlus overview of Montelukast

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Scope

The population eligibility for Montair Plus is strictly defined by regulatory standards, with several contraindications and use restrictions. The medicine is contraindicated for patients with known hypersensitivity to Montelukast, Bambuterol, or any inactive component.

Contraindicated Populations and Conditional Use

Use is prohibited in pregnant women and those with seriously impaired liver function. The medicine must never be used to treat acute asthma attacks, as it is intended solely for chronic, long-term maintenance.

Age eligibility generally restricts the FDC for children under 6 years of age, with use below this age typically not recommended. Use during lactation is also not recommended due to insufficient safety data.

Eligibility requires caution and monitoring for patients with pre-existing conditions, including severe heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes mellitus. For treating allergic rhinitis, regulatory guidance mandates that this medicine be reserved for individuals who have not responded adequately to or cannot tolerate alternative treatments. Use in patients with renal impairment is allowed but requires dose adjustment.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Montair Plus Interactions with other medicines and products

This section outlines the officially documented interaction patterns for the active ingredients of Montair Plus (Montelukast and Bambuterol), based strictly on government regulatory documents.


Pharmacokinetic Interactions (Montelukast)

Interactions that alter the drug's concentration in the body are primarily related to the Montelukast component, involving the Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system.

Interacting Substance Class Official Regulatory Effect on Montelukast Exposure
Potent CYP Inhibitors (e.g., Gemfibrozil) Increases systemic exposure (AUC) by approximately 4.4-fold.
Potent CYP Inducers (e.g., Phenobarbital, Rifampicin) Decreases systemic exposure (AUC), potentially by 40% (Phenobarbital).

Pharmacodynamic and Substance Restrictions

Interaction Type Interacting Substances/Conditions Regulatory Constraint
Additive Effects Other Sympathomimetic Amines or Methylxanthines Potential for increased risk of adverse cardiovascular effects due to the beta2-agonist component.
Condition-Specific Aspirin or NSAIDs (in sensitive patients) Montelukast does not protect against the bronchoconstrictor response; avoidance is still required.
Population Note CYP Inducers Caution is advised when co-administering CYP inducers in the pediatric population.

Co-administration with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) is generally viewed as a restricted combination for beta2-agonists due to the risk of severe cardiovascular consequences.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action for Montair Plus involves the complementary modulation of two distinct physiological systems: the leukotriene pathway, a source of key inflammatory mediators, and the beta2-adrenergic system that controls muscle tone.

Blocking Leukotriene-Mediated Signaling

The Montelukast component acts as a selective antagonist of the Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor Type 1 (CysLT1). By blocking this receptor, the drug prevents inflammatory mediators (leukotrienes) from binding. This antagonism inhibits the molecular steps downstream of CysLT1 receptor activation, which results in the inhibition of leukotriene-mediated airway edema and mucus hypersecretion.

️ Activating beta2-Receptors for Modulating Bronchial Smooth Muscle Tone

The second mechanistic domain involves the regulation of smooth muscle tension. The Bambuterol component is a pro-drug that metabolizes into the active agent Terbutaline, which directly stimulates beta2-adrenergic receptors. This agonism initiates a signaling sequence that elevates intracellular cAMP, which results in a physiological consequence: the relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle. This agonism directly influences the signaling pathways responsible for regulating smooth muscle contraction.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Montair Plus: Administration Guidelines

Montair Plus (Montelukast + Bambuterol FDC tablet) is designed for consistent, long-term administration. The following instructions describe the standard administration protocol for taking the medication for its intended maintenance purpose.

Core Administration Scope

Instruction Detail
Route of administration Oral (The tablet must be swallowed whole)
Standard Dosing Schedule One fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablet, once daily.
Recommended Timing Preferably taken in the evening.
Food Relationship May be taken with or without food.

Procedural and Population Rules

Instruction Detail
Administration Method Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet; swallow it whole with water.
Age Group The standard adult FDC strength is generally for adults and adolescents 15 years and older.
Duration of Use Intended for long-term maintenance. Therapy should not be stopped abruptly, even if symptoms improve.
Missed Dose If a dose is missed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Do not double the dose.

Summary of General Use

This medication is for a consistent once-daily oral schedule and is not intended for use during acute breathing attacks. The FDC tablet form must be taken as a single, intact unit, typically in the evening, to sustain the therapeutic protocol over time. Adherence to the once-daily, long-term schedule is the standard requirement for using this medicine.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Montair Plus: Recent Clinical Evidence

Evidence for Use in Chronic Persistent Asthma

Research was studied for the components of Montair Plus (Montelukast and Bambuterol) and similar combinations used in research exploring how symptoms change over time for chronic persistent asthma. The evidence base includes Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews. Studies primarily evaluated in patients changes in objective airway capacity (like FEV1) and patient-reported outcomes describing perceived discomfort. Findings describe patterns observed in the studies over short-term follow-up. The evidence level for this core indication is considered moderate, due partly to the reliance on studies comparing the individual components.

Research on Related Respiratory Phenotypes

The combination was studied for use in conditions involving periods of heightened symptoms, and research examined supportive management in phenotypes like Cough Variant Asthma (CVA). Studies in this area utilize smaller-scale RCTs that focus mainly on the Montelukast component, exploring short-term symptom changes using measures like the Cough Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Evidence is limited for the specific use of the combined Montair Plus tablet in this narrow patient population.

Follow-up Duration, Maintenance, and Uncertainties

Most dedicated RCTs for the fixed-dose tablet was observed in patients for short-term or episodic symptom patterns, usually spanning a few weeks. For understanding long-term duration, evidence is primarily derived from settings with varying symptom burdens and systematic reviews of the individual components. Long-term effects are not fully established by dedicated FDC-specific trials. Research has examined adult and pediatric populations, but data for certain groups remain insufficient, especially the very elderly or those with complex comorbidities. Research highlights what is known — and what is still uncertain, as the evidence quality varies across studies, leading to situations where certainty remains low for long-duration or complex subgroup applications.

How should Montair Plus be stored and disposed of?

Official Storage and Disposal Requirements

This information details the storage and disposal requirements for Montair Plus, based strictly on official regulatory labeling.

Storage Conditions

Requirement Details
Temperature Store below 30 C (or controlled room temperature).
Protection Must be protected from light and moisture.
Packaging Keep the medicine in its original, tightly closed container.
Stability The product is stable until the expiry date when stored according to requirements.

Handling and Safety

Keep Montair Plus out of the sight and reach of children at all times to prevent accidental ingestion.

Disposal

Dispose of unused or expired Montair Plus according to local regulatory requirements for pharmaceutical waste. Do not dispose of the medicine in household waste or flush it down a toilet or sink, as it must be protected from entering water systems.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

Available in countries:

Equivalent of Montair Plus found in:

A-Z Index: