Download Image
    
Share
  
Post
c19early.org
Montelukast for COVID-19
9 studies with >2,000 patients
Serious outcome risk
Montelukast
Control
Significantly lower risk for hospitalization and cases.
4 studies from 4 independent teams in 4 countries show significant benefit.
COVID-19 Montelukast studies · October 2026
Montelukast has a boxed warning for neuropsychiatric side effects1.
Covid Analysis Montelukast reduces COVID-19 risk: real-time meta-analysis of 9 studies (Version 9)
Significantly lower risk is seen for hospitalization and cases. 4 studies from 4 independent teams in 4 countries show significant benefit. Meta-analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 39% [14‑56%] lower risk. Re..
Jan 10
2025
 Hamdan et al., Turkish Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, doi:10.4274/tjps.galenos.2024.49768 In silico Evaluation of H1-Antihistamine as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase: Repurposing Study of COVID-19 Therapy
In silico study showing that H1RA antihistamines, including bilastine, fexofenadine, mizolastine, rupatadine, terfenadine, and the leukotriene receptor antagonists montelukast and zafirlukast, may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA poly..
Nov 21
2024
 Haque et al., Discover Molecules, doi:10.1007/s44345-024-00005-5 Exploring potential therapeutic candidates against COVID-19: a molecular docking study
In silico study showing potential inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 proteins by various compounds including dactinomycin, itraconazole, ivermectin, vitamin D, quercetin, curcumin, montelukast, bromhexine, hesperidin, EGCG and raloxifene. Authors p..
Aug 5
2024
 Zengin et al., Genel Tıp Dergisi, doi:10.54005/geneltip.1352153 The Effect of Montelukast Treatment on Elderly Patients Diagnosed with COVID-19
14% lower mortality (p=1), 90% higher ICU admission (p=0.46), and 3% shorter hospitalization (p=0.81). Retrospective 75 hospitalized COVID-19 patients over 60 in Turkey showing no significant differences with montelukast treatment.
May 18
2024
 Rothman et al., JAMA Network Open, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.39332 (date from preprint) Time to Sustained Recovery Among Outpatients With COVID-19 Receiving Montelukast vs Placebo
1% fewer combined hospitalization/ER visits (p=1), 48% higher progression (p=0.29), and 2% improved recovery (p=0.72). RCT 1,250 outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 showing no significant difference in time to sustained recovery with montelukast treatment. There were no deaths and only 2 hospitalizations in each group. Notably, results were better ..
Sep 23
2023
 Alhmoud et al., Qatar Medical Journal, doi:10.5339/qmj.2023.15 Characteristics and outcomes of adult patients with asthma presenting with COVID-19: A comparative cohort study
13% lower hospitalization (p=0.61). Retrospective 616 COVID-19 patients with asthma in Qatar showing no significant difference in hospitalization risk with montelukast use.
Aug 31
2023
 Cordero et al., NCT04695704 Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial, Placebo-controlled to Assess the Efficacy of Montelukast in Mild-moderate Respiratory Symptoms in Patients With Long-COVID-19: E-SPERANZA COVID-19 PROJECT
Estimated 284 patient montelukast late treatment RCT with results not reported over 3 years after estimated completion.
Jul 5
2023
 Mulgaonkar et al., Pharmaceutics, doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics15071891 Montelukast and Telmisartan as Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant
In silico and in vitro study showing that montelukast and telmisartan inhibit SARS-CoV-2 wild-type and the omicron variant. In silico analysis found montelukast and telmisartan bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain ..
Mar 30
2023
 Salehi-Pourmehr et al., Biomedical Research Bulletin, doi:10.34172/biomedrb.2023.06 Effect of Montelukast on Treatment of Coronavirus Pneumonia (COVID-19): A Systematic Review
Systematic review of 8 studies showing improved symptoms, clinical deterioration, hospitalization length, and mortality with montelukast treatment for COVID-19 patients.
Mar 19
2023
 McCarthy, M., Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, doi:10.1080/14656566.2023.2192866 Montelukast as a potential treatment for COVID-19
Review of montelukast as a potential treatment for COVID-19.
Sep 15
2022
 Mohamed Hussein et al., The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology, doi:10.1186/s43168-022-00154-6 Value of montelukast as a potential treatment of post-COVID-19 persistent cough: a non-randomized controlled pilot study
50% improved recovery (p<0.0001). RCT 68 post-COVID-19 outpatients showing improvement in cough severity measures with montelukast treatment. The montelukast group had a greater reduction in number of cough paroxysms per day, cough severity visual analog scale, cough seve..
Jul 31
2022
 Soltani et al., The Clinical Respiratory Journal, doi:10.1111/crj.13529 The effectiveness of gabapentin and gabapentin/montelukast combination compared with dextromethorphan in the improvement of COVID‐19‐ related cough: A randomized, controlled clinical trial
20% shorter hospitalization (p=0.01) and 25% improved recovery (p=0.0006). RCT 180 hospitalized COVID-19 patients showing improved cough symptoms and shorter hospitalization with montelukast/gabapentin compared to gabapentin. For gabapentin vs. dextromethorphan there was no significant difference in hospitalizat..
Jun 1
2022
 Durdagi et al., NCT04718285 A National, Multi-Center, Open-Label, Three-Arm, Phase II Study to Investigate the Effect of Montelukast Between Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations in COVID-19 Pneumonia in Comparison With Standard Treatment
Estimated 380 patient montelukast early treatment RCT with results not reported over 4 years after estimated completion.
Feb 28
2022
 May et al., International Immunopharmacology, doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108412 Levocetirizine and montelukast in the COVID-19 treatment paradigm
Retrospective 53 patients reporting a potential benefit with levocetirizine and montelukast treatment for COVID-19. 51 of 53 patients were considered clinically cured on the combination therapy, with symptom resolution typically within 7 ..
Feb 8
2022
 Camera et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology, doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.784214 Montelukast Inhibits Platelet Activation Induced by Plasma From COVID-19 Patients
In vitro study showing that montelukast inhibits platelet activation induced by plasma from COVID-19 patients. Authors demonstrate that montelukast prevents the surface expression of tissue factor (TF) and P-selectin on platelets, reduces..
Jan 4
2022
 Kerget et al., Journal of Medical Virology, doi:10.1002/jmv.27552 Effect of montelukast therapy on clinical course, pulmonary function, and mortality in patients with COVID‐19
92% lower mortality (p=0.01), 81% lower progression (p=0.007), and 15% shorter hospitalization (p=0.04). RCT 180 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Turkey showing faster reduction in inflammatory markers, improved pulmonary function, and lower rates of macrophage activation syndrome, respiratory failure and mortality with montelukast treatmen..
Nov 22
2021
 Kumar et al., International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, doi:10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20214502 Efficacy of montelukast in the management of COVID-19: double blind randomized placebo controlled trial
67% lower ICU admission (p=0.62), 25% higher progression (p=0.79), and no change in hospital discharge (p=1). RCT 90 mild to moderate COVID-19 patients showing no significant differences with montelukast treatment.
Mar 4
2021
 Khan et al., Journal of Asthma, doi:10.1080/02770903.2021.1881967 Montelukast in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19
64% lower progression (p=0.09) and 12% shorter hospitalization (p=0.33). Retrospective 92 hospitalized patients showing lower clinical deterioration with montelukast treatment, without statistical significance in multivariable analysis. The treatment group was older.
Feb 10
2021
 Lima-Morales et al., International Journal of Infectious Diseases, doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.014 Effectiveness of a multidrug therapy consisting of ivermectin, azithromycin, montelukast and acetylsalicylic acid to prevent hospitalization and death among ambulatory COVID-19 cases in Tlaxcala, Mexico
78% lower mortality (p=0.001), 52% lower ventilation (p=0.15), 67% lower hospitalization (p=0.001), and 59% improved recovery (p=0.001). Prospective trial of 768 COVID-19 outpatients in Mexico, 481 treated with ivermectin, AZ, montelukast, and aspirin, and 287 control patients with various treatments, showing significantly lower mortality and hospitalization, and significa..
Sep 17
2020
 Bozek et al., Journal of Asthma, doi:10.1080/02770903.2020.1786112 Montelukast’s ability to fight COVID-19 infection
91% lower hospitalization (p=0.02) and 82% fewer cases (p=0.004). Retrospective 445 elderly patients with severe asthma showing reduced risk of COVID-19 infection with montelukast treatment.
Sep 4
2020
 Barré et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology, doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.01344 Montelukast Drug May Improve COVID-19 Prognosis: A Review of Evidence
Review of evidence that montelukast may improve COVID-19 prognosis. Authors note ten experimentally supported properties of montelukast that could be beneficial, including antiviral effects, prevention of SARS-CoV-2-induced endotheliitis ..
References