Value of Montelukast as a Potential Treatment of Post COVID-19 Persistent Cough

Value of Montelukast as a Potential Treatment of Post COVID-19 Persistent Cough: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

As of September 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people in 196 countries and left hundreds of thousands dead. After recovery it was found that up to 32% of cases had 1 or 2 symptoms, 55% had 3 or more Post-COVID-19 symptoms, and persistent Post COVID-19 cough was recorded in 29.3% of cases in one study.

A recent study identified Montelukast, among the top-scoring clinically-oriented drugs likely to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Besides its known effect that is reported to improve cough and prevent exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma, many trials assessed Montelukast in the treatment of post-infectious cough and found variable effects.

Despite that the exact mechanism is not yet identified, Barré and colleagues proposed several properties of Cyst LT1 receptor antagonists that are potentially beneficial in COVID-19.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with Post COVID-19 persistent cough after 4 weeks of acute attack

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any contraindication to Montelukast, respiratory, cardiac disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding and use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.