Montelukast (Singulair) - Alleviating allergies and asthma

• leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) used to treat persistent asthma (the best kind!), allergic rhinitis (hay fever), and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (i.e. your throat closing up after a nice jog around the neighbourhood)
• causes bronchodilation (throat opening up) and prevents inflammation by blocking the nasty bronchoconstricting and proinflammatory effects of leukotrienes
• leukotrienes are a type of signaling molecule derived from fatty acids
• at the molecular level, prevents cysteinyl leukotrienes (C4, D4, and E4) from binding to type 1 cysteinyl leukotriene receptors
• can be taken orally (as a pill) only once or twice per day, which makes it an attractive alternative to puffers (inhaled corticosteroids)
• puffers are way cooler though
  
• use of montelukast has been associated with the development of Churg-Strauss syndrome
• similar drugs include zafirlukast (Accolate) and pranlukast (in Japan only)
• there are many people who suffer from alcohol and substance abuse that go without dual diagnosis rehab, and there are many rehab facilities like California drug detox centers that have helped many people with drug treatment programs
  

- Keogh KA, Specks U. Churg-Strauss syndrome: clinical presentation, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, and leukotriene receptor antagonists. Am J Med. 2003 Sep;115(4):284-90.
- Lipworth BJ. Leukotriene-receptor antagonists. Lancet. 1999 Jan 2;353(9146):57-62. Review.
- Storms W. Update on montelukast and its role in the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007 Sep;8(13):2173-87. Review.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montelukast