How to Find Montelukast In Stock Near You (Tools + Tips)

You've been prescribed montelukast (generic Singulair) for asthma or allergies — and your pharmacy doesn't have it. Maybe they said to try back tomorrow. Maybe three locations in a row told you the same thing. It's frustrating, especially when you're managing symptoms day-to-day.

The good news is that montelukast is not in a national shortage. It's widely manufactured and stocked across the country. With the right approach, you can usually find it the same day. Here's exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Confirm the Exact Formulation You Need

Before you start calling pharmacies, have your prescription details handy. Montelukast comes in four different forms, and each has different availability:

10 mg film-coated tablet — for adults and teens 15+. Most widely available.

5 mg chewable tablet — for children 6–14. Generally available but slightly harder to find than the adult tablet.

4 mg chewable tablet — for children 2–5. Requires more searching at times.

4 mg oral granules (packet) — for infants and toddlers 6–23 months. The least widely stocked; may need to call several pharmacies.

Knowing your exact strength and form upfront saves time on every call you make.

Step 2: Use medfinder to Search Hands-Free

The fastest way to find montelukast in stock is to use medfinder. You enter your medication name, dosage, and zip code. medfinder then calls pharmacies near you to ask which ones can fill your prescription. Results are sent directly to your phone via text — no hold music, no repeating yourself at each counter.

This is especially valuable for pediatric formulations (chewable tablets and oral granules) that require calling around to more pharmacies than the standard adult tablet.

Step 3: Call Pharmacies in This Order

If you prefer to call yourself, work through pharmacies in this order of likelihood:

Large chain pharmacies (Costco, Walmart, Target/CVS) — highest inventory volume; most likely to have multiple formulations on hand.

CVS and Walgreens — widespread locations; typically well-stocked on adult 10 mg tablets.

Grocery store pharmacies (Kroger, Publix, Safeway) — often less busy and may have stock when chain pharmacies have sold out.

Independent pharmacies — smaller inventory but sometimes easier to call quickly and get a direct answer from the pharmacist.

Step 4: Ask the Right Questions When You Call

When you call a pharmacy, be specific:

"Do you have montelukast [strength] [form] in stock today? How many tablets do you have?"

"Can you hold it for me while I transfer my prescription?"

"Can you fill a partial supply (e.g., 15 days worth) now and the rest when you restock?"

Step 5: Transfer Your Prescription

Once you find a pharmacy with stock, transfer your prescription. You can usually do this in one of three ways:

Ask the new pharmacy to transfer directly from your current pharmacy — the most common and easiest method.

Ask your doctor to send a new e-prescription directly to the pharmacy with stock.

Use your patient portal or telehealth provider to request a new prescription at a specific pharmacy.

Step 6: Consider Mail-Order for Ongoing Supplies

If you take montelukast daily for chronic asthma or year-round allergies, a 90-day mail-order supply is the smartest long-term move. Mail-order pharmacies (Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, OptumRx, Amazon Pharmacy) maintain large inventory buffers and are less likely to face local stock gaps. Many insurance plans offer lower copays for mail-order 90-day supplies than for 30-day retail fills.

What If You Still Can't Find It?

If you've exhausted your local options and can't find montelukast in your area, talk to your prescriber. They may be able to:

Switch you temporarily to a different formulation of montelukast (e.g., from 10 mg tablet to granules mixed into food)

Consider a short-term alternative medication (antihistamine for allergic rhinitis, or increasing inhaled corticosteroid doses for asthma)

Refer you to a specialty pharmacy that can special-order your formulation

For more information on what to take if you can't fill your prescription, see our guide to alternatives to montelukast.