A school-age child started montelukast for asthma. Highlight the findings that require prompt medication follow-up.
Highlight in Table
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
New nightmares, aggression, hallucination-like behavior, and suicidal statements are serious neuropsychiatric signals requiring immediate discontinuation and contact with the prescriber.
Quick answer Escalate new behavior, sleep, perception, or self-harm symptoms.
Why this is correct Montelukast neuropsychiatric effects can occur with or without a prior psychiatric history. Families should not wait for a routine appointment when these symptoms appear.
Easy analogy or mental picture Use a family-centered medication-safety loop: verify age or pregnancy context, identify the exposure and new cue, prevent further harm, stabilize the client, and confirm the response.
Memory hook Population, indication, dose or route, contraindication, urgent cue, protective action, and reassessment.
NCLEX decision rule Choose the action that protects the maternal, newborn, or pediatric client from the most immediate medication-related harm while preserving authorized treatment.
Why the other choices are wrong Options that normalize a danger sign, substitute an unapproved route or dose, or delay reassessment leave the client exposed to preventable harm.
References
1DailyMed: montelukast sodiumBoxed warning for serious neuropsychiatric events, caregiver counseling, monitoring, and immediate discontinuation if symptoms occur
Maternal, newborn, and pediatric medication safety reviewVerify the client's age or pregnancy stage, indication, weight or laboratory context, route, interacting therapies, contraindications, caregiver teaching, and measurable follow-up.