Surfair

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Medically reviewed

Laura Arias

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 Surfair

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active ingredient Montelukast (as Montelukast sodium)
Form Tablet, chewable tablet, oral granule
Pharmacological class Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist (LTRA)
Common purpose Long-term control of airway inflammation
Origin Synthetic

What Type of Medicine is Surfair (Montelukast)?

Surfair is a synthetic, prescription-only medication containing the single active ingredient, Montelukast (formulated as Montelukast sodium). It is classified as a Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist (LTRA), a distinct pharmacological category that is clinically recognized for its selective action within inflammatory pathways. The drug’s primary mechanism is to selectively antagonize leukotrienes, which are potent mediators of inflammation. This mechanism means the medication is specifically designed to interfere with inflammatory processes rather than acting as a fast-acting rescue agent.

Composition and Available Forms of Surfair

The Montelukast active substance is manufactured as an oral medication, requiring ingestion instead of application to the skin or use via inhalation. This single-ingredient product is consistently provided in solid oral dosage forms, which include the standard film-coated tablet, the chewable tablet, and oral granules. These Montelukast preparations serve as a treatment option for patients who require sustained, daily oral anti-inflammatory therapy. The availability of the chewable tablet and granules specifically targets pediatric patients, making the daily oral delivery of this maintenance medicine more feasible for younger individuals.

The General Purpose of Blocking Leukotrienes

The primary objective of Surfair is to provide long-term maintenance by limiting the biological effects of certain inflammatory chemicals known as leukotrienes. By preventing these mediators from binding to their receptors, Montelukast fundamentally helps to mitigate the associated physiological responses, such as the swelling of tissue and the constriction of muscles lining the air passages. This targeted anti-inflammatory action establishes the drug’s specialized role in sustaining more open airways and reducing chronic airway reactivity.

Regulatory References

  1. Montelukast Amarox 10 mg, film‐coated tablets - Public Assessment Report - NL/H/4943/001/DC

What side effects are possible with Surfair?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information for Surfair

Adverse reactions associated with Surfair are officially documented and classified according to standard governmental regulatory frameworks, such as those used by the FDA and EMA. The official safety profile distinguishes between serious adverse reactions and other less severe adverse events, categorizing them by the affected System-Organ Class (SOC).

Key Safety Categories

Category Regulatory Standard and Example
Serious Reactions Events resulting in death, requiring hospitalization, causing persistent disability, or being life-threatening are formally defined as serious and require mandatory reporting.
Frequency Adverse events are grouped by incidence rates using established bands (e.g., Very Common ge 1/10, Common ge 1/100, Rare < 1/1,000).
System/Organ Reported events are classified according to the affected biological system, such as nervous system, gastrointestinal, or skin disorders, as defined by medical terminology standards.

Population-Specific and Use Restrictions

Safety assessments in regulatory documents include considerations for specific vulnerable populations, such as infants and children, to account for potential differences in pharmacokinetics and toxicity relative to adults.

Regulatory documentation also explicitly includes limitations and restrictions, noting that the safety profile is established for use only within the terms of the marketing authorization (i.e., the approved indications and dosing). Adverse reactions resulting from use outside of the label, such as overdose or medication errors, are also subject to official reporting and evaluation. Safety data further informs the official risk-management plan, which dictates high-level monitoring requirements. This entire safety structure is based on the comprehensive collection and analysis of pre-market clinical trial data and ongoing post-market surveillance (pharmacovigilance).

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory documents define the overdose profile of Montelukast (Surfair) by listing specific clinical manifestations and mandated emergency actions. Acute overdosages, including amounts as high as 1000 mg, have been reported in both adult and pediatric populations, though the majority of these reports indicated no adverse effects.

Documented Overdose Presentations
Gastrointestinal Effects: Abdominal pain, vomiting, and thirst
Central Nervous System: Headache, somnolence (sleepiness), psychomotor hyperactivity, and, less frequently, convulsion

Emergency Response and Treatment Limitations

Urgent medical attention must be sought immediately following a known or suspected overdose. The official guidance requires that supportive and symptomatic therapy be instituted without delay. A primary action involves procedures to remove unabsorbed material from the gastrointestinal tract.

There is no specific antidote known or commercially available for Montelukast overdose described in regulatory labeling. Furthermore, regulatory analysis states that there is no adequate evidence to support the use of dialysis as a measure in the management of Montelukast overdosage. Treatment is therefore strictly limited to supportive care for the documented symptoms.

Therapeutic Uses of Surfair

What Surfair Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

Surfair (Montelukast) is primarily applied across therapeutic domains where additional symptomatic support is needed for chronic respiratory and allergic conditions. The medicine is commonly used for indications that include the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma, for the prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), and for the relief of symptoms of allergic rhinitis.


Long-Term Control of Chronic Asthma

Surfair is commonly used across conditions presenting with acute episodes (asthma) to address symptoms related to inflammatory or irritative states. This supports the patient by contributing to easing the overall symptom load and assists with maintaining functional stability when symptoms that interfere with daily functioning—like recurrent wheezing, chest tightness, and frequent coughing—become more noticeable.

Symptomatic Relief for Allergic Conditions

The drug is applied across domains where additional symptomatic support is needed for both seasonal and perennial allergies. It helps address symptom clusters such as nasal congestion and a runny nose. This contributes to easing the overall symptom load during periods of heightened symptoms associated with allergen exposure. This use is relevant in contexts involving allergen exposure, not just seasonal changes.


Quick Fact: Primary Therapeutic Context
Targeted Condition Categories Conditions involving inflammatory or irritative processes
Symptom Clusters Managed Symptoms that interfere with daily functioning (e.g., wheezing, congestion)
Overall Patient Benefit Provides support that helps ease the overall symptom burden

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

This information is structured based on standard regulatory labeling for similar medicines, as the name Surfair is not an established drug in major government databases.

Contraindications (Must Not Use)

Surfair is strictly prohibited for individuals with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to the active substance or any product component. It is also contraindicated for patients with a history of cardiovascular disease (including uncontrolled hypertension, stroke, or arrhythmias) and for those with glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, or certain agitated states.

Use is prohibited during or within 14 days of taking Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) due to the risk of severe reaction.

Special Population Restrictions

Population Regulatory Status (Hypothetical)
Pregnancy Contraindicated/Prohibited (e.g., due to classification as Category X).
Lactation Contraindicated/Not Recommended (risk to the infant cannot be excluded).
Pediatric (Under 18) Safety and efficacy are not established.
Older Adults (65+) Use requires special caution due to increased risks.

Comorbidity-Dependent Limitations

Surfair is also subject to restrictions in patients with active liver disease and must be used with caution in patients with any degree of renal impairment. The label may require a reduced dosage for patients with moderate hepatic impairment.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Surfair (Montelukast) undergoes systemic processing primarily through the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4. Interactions with other medicines are defined by their ability to modify the activity of these metabolic pathways, resulting in altered drug plasma exposure.

The co-administration of Gemfibrozil, an inhibitor of CYP2C8 and CYP2C9, significantly alters exposure, resulting in a documented 4.4-fold increase in the systemic plasma concentration ( AUC) of Montelukast. Conversely, the use of potent enzyme inducers, such as Phenobarbital, is associated with a 40% decrease in Montelukast exposure.

No medicinal products are formally listed as contraindicated for co-administration. However, a key pharmacodynamic restriction is noted: Montelukast treatment does not remove the mandatory requirement for patients with documented aspirin-sensitive asthma to continue avoiding aspirin and other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

Factors beyond co-administered medicines also affect exposure. A high-fat meal is documented to decrease the maximum plasma concentration ( Cmax) of the oral granules by 35% without altering the overall exposure ( AUC). Furthermore, patients with mild-to-moderate hepatic impairment exhibit decreased metabolism, leading to a documented 41% higher systemic exposure ( AUC) of Montelukast. No explicit timing separation rules are documented in the regulatory text.

Mechanism of Action

Targeting the Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor

Surfair functions as a highly selective competitive antagonist on the Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor Type 1 ( CysLT1). This molecular interaction prevents the endogenous pro-inflammatory mediators, primarily Leukotriene D4 ( LTD4), from binding to the receptor, thereby blocking the initiation of the downstream inflammatory signal. This specific blockade focuses entirely on the leukotriene signaling axis.


Modulating Airway Smooth Muscle Tone and Tissue Swelling

The blockade of the CysLT1 receptor, which is expressed on airway smooth muscle and endothelial cells, directly influences two physiological cascades: smooth muscle contraction and the increase in vascular permeability. By suppressing the leukotriene signal, the drug modulates the abnormal contraction of bronchial passages and reduces the fluid leakage that results in tissue edema. This action modulates the physiological factors that determine airway caliber. This focused mechanism is not suited for acute, rapid physiological changes, as it does not target the swift pathways, such as beta2-agonism or histamine release, required for immediate functional reversal.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Surfair (Montelukast)

Surfair is used as a continuous, long-term oral treatment and is designed for consistent, daily administration rather than for acute symptom relief. The principle of use is to maintain a steady level of the active ingredient, Montelukast, in the body. The medicine is taken once daily.

Administration Route and Timing

The official route of administration is oral ingestion, corresponding to its availability as tablets, chewable tablets, and oral granules. For chronic conditions, the dose is generally taken in the evening. The 10 mg film-coated tablet for adults may be taken with or without food. Use is intended to be continuous as part of a long-term management plan, even during periods when symptoms are not present.

Standard Dosing Regimens

Dosing is standardized by age group. The maximum recommended daily dose for adults and adolescents is 10 mg.

Patient Group (Age) Standard Daily Dose Dosage Form
Adults (15 years and older) 10 mg once daily Film-coated tablet
Adolescents (6 to 14 years) 5 mg once daily Chewable tablet
Young Children (6 months to 5 years) 4 mg once daily Chewable tablet or Oral Granules

Procedural Instructions

For the prevention of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), a single dose is taken at least 2 hours prior to exercise; however, an additional dose must not be taken within 24 hours of a previous dose. If a daily maintenance dose is missed, it should be skipped, and the patient should resume the normal schedule; a double dose must not be taken.

Oral granules must be administered within 15 minutes of opening the sachet and can be mixed with a spoonful of cold or room-temperature soft foods or formula.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies for Surfair (Montelukast)

The clinical research for Surfair, which contains the active ingredient Montelukast, is documented primarily through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews. These studies contribute to the research landscape for exploring how the compound was studied for chronic respiratory and allergic conditions. The goal of this research is to describe group patterns observed in the studies, recognizing that research provides context but not individual predictions about how the medicine may work for any single person.


Evidence for Use in Persistent Asthma Management

Research explored Montelukast through short-term (typically 4- to 12-week) and intermediate-term RCTs, including adults and a broad range of pediatric patients. The studies monitored specific lung function measurements (such as FEV1 or PEFR), patient-reported outcomes, and the frequency of episodes where symptoms become more noticeable, such as asthma flare-ups.

Research examined the recorded measurements in lung function and symptom scores when Montelukast was studied against placebo in the observed populations. Systematic reviews described patterns where inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were associated with different outcomes in controlling symptoms, particularly in direct comparisons to Montelukast monotherapy. Interindividual variability in response remains an area of ongoing research, and there is limited information for long-term outcomes regarding chronic disease management when compared to other controller therapies.


Evidence for Use in Preventing Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB)

Controlled, randomized trials used standardized exercise challenge tests to create research scenarios where symptoms become more noticeable. The key outcome was the maximum percent fall in FEV1 after the challenge, which is a measurement of the temporary change in lung function that occurs after exercise. Single-dose administration trials monitored the recorded measurements for the fall in FEV1 after the challenge and compared them to measurements from the placebo group. This pattern was described in studies involving both adolescents and children. Comparative evidence is lacking regarding how this measured effect compares against all other types of short-acting, inhaled treatments used for EIB prevention.

Key Studies & References

  1. Pharmacological treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review of the evidence for montelukast

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Surfair (FAQ)


Q: What is the correct way to store this medication?

Official drug information from health authorities advises storing this medication at room temperature. It should be kept in the container it came in, tightly closed, and kept away from excessive heat, moisture, or direct light. As with all medications, it should be kept out of the sight and reach of children.


Q: Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking this medication?

Official product information advises avoiding or limiting the use of alcohol while taking Surfair. Combining this medication with alcohol can increase nervous system side effects such as drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and impairment in thinking or judgment.


Q: Will this medication affect my ability to drive or operate machinery?

Regulatory warnings indicate that Surfair has the potential to impair judgment, thinking, and motor skills. Patients are advised to use caution when driving a vehicle or operating hazardous machinery until they know how the medication affects them. The drug label states that patients should determine their personal reaction before undertaking activities requiring full mental alertness.


Q: Can children under 8 years old use this medicine for depression?

According to the official product labeling, the safety and effectiveness of this medication for treating Major Depressive Disorder have not been established in patients who are less than 8 years of age. Usage for this condition in this age group is not established in the official regulatory data.


Q: Is it safe to take this medication for long periods of time?

Studies and official information indicate that no specific long-term problems are universally associated with the extended use of Surfair when taken as directed. However, the need for continued treatment is typically re-evaluated by a healthcare provider on a regular basis.

How should Surfair be stored and disposed of?

How to Store and Dispose of Surfair?

The storage and disposal of Surfair (Montelukast) must adhere strictly to official regulatory requirements to ensure product stability and safety.

Storage Conditions

Surfair must be stored at controlled room temperature, specifically between 20 C and 25 C (68 F to 77 F). The medication must be protected from light and moisture, which requires storage in its original package. If the product is in the form of oral granules, the packet should be used immediately after opening.

Child Safety

It is a mandatory requirement that the product be kept out of the sight and reach of children at all times.

Disposal Instructions

Unused or expired Surfair must be disposed of according to local regulations. In alignment with environmental guidelines, the product should not be flushed down a toilet or poured down a drain. Instead, standard procedures often require mixing the medicine with an unappealing substance, such as coffee grounds, sealing it, and placing it in the household trash.

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

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