Singulair effectiveness

My primary just put me on singulair for allergies/mild asthma.  If I have asthma, and I think I do, it is the cough-variant asthma.  He said if singulair doesn't work, I should go to an allergist and find out exactly what I'm allergic to.  He would certainly prescribe me an inhalant medication, but if he did I would never learn exactly what I was allergic to.  In the meantime, I started taking sinulair a couple of days ago.  Right away, my nasal allergies got a lot better.  Still have the cough, though, and I'm sure it's allergies because it only happens outside in the air.  How long before sinulair helps the cough, if it helps at all?

Thanks for the reply.  My primary did tell me to take it at night because for reasons unknown, it works better for asthma at night, and it doesn't really matter what time you take it for allergies.  I was trying to avoid going to an allergist.  I take a couple of immunosupressant medications for rheumatoid arthritis so my immune system does not function properly.  Allergy testing may be a futile exercise because my immune system would most likely not react appropriately.  For example, I had a tb test done about 8 or 9 months ago that included a control (measles, or something like that).  My immune system failed to recognize either the tb or measles.  Bottom line is if I have to have allergy testing done, I may have to go off my arthritis medications and I'm not willing to do that right now.  It takes a very long time for those drugs to start working, and I don't want to have start over.  Of course, primary said some allergies are histamine based and some are antibody based.  One of these, I forget which, would probably test ok despite the immunosupressant meds.  This post sounds like I'm whining--I'm really not.  Just explaining the situation.  How long before singulair would start working, if it works for my cough at all? 

Thanks,

Elcamino

I started on Singulair about a month ago and it treated my allergy symptoms within 1 week or so. I woke up and I couldn't believe how much better I was feeling! I don't know if I have asthma (doubt it though) but it definately helps with my allergies. No more pnd, coughing, sniffling, sneezing etc.

I know what you mean about the immune suppressing drugs. I went in for allergy testing (RAST) and all my tests came back negative. I asked my primary if the fact that I am on 6mp could cause the negative reading because one of the things I asked to be tested for was hazelnuts (I'm 100% I'm allergic to) and even that came back negative. She gave me a blank stare and said she honestly didn't know. So then I brought up the same question to my GI doc and he said that it shouldn't affect an allergy testing because they use different ? -forgot what he called it. So then I told him about the hazelnuts and he sort did a hmmm and didn't say much else.

---

I know for me personally I may end up persuing the matter by going to a specialist because all my docs don't have a clue. So I agree that maybe a specialist might be able to help you.

---

Thanks for your input everyone.  It's been almost a week, and singulair has helped my nasal allergies greatly, but hasn't done a whole lot for my cough.  I most likely will go see an allergist; I just hate going to new doctors.  But I do know from watching my mother (who had severe asthma) that a full blown asthma attack can be very deadly. 

Take care everyone,

Elcamino

Hi Carla,

My mother passed away in 2000, but not from her asthma.  She developed interstitial lung disease associated with mixed connective tissue disease (see where I get the AI issues) and her lungs eventually failed her.  Just like Robert Goullet (sp) who died (I think) this past weekend.  But as I was growing up, she had several asthma attacks--had to go to the ER every time.  And spent most of my life coming down off prednisone.