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Accolate

Generic name: Zafirlukast
Manufacturer: AstraZeneca

ZAFIRLUKAST (Accolate®) helps to reduce asthma symptoms (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness) and control your asthma.

Accolate Dosage

The recommended Accolate dose is 20 mg twice daily in adults and children 12 years and older. Since food reduces the bioavailability of zafirlukast, zafirlukast should be taken at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.

Uses of Accolate

• Zafirlukast is used to prevent asthma attacks.
• Zafirlukast may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
• This drug may also be used to minimize breathing problems caused by exercising or sensitivity to aspirin.

Side Effects of Accolate

Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine if it is safe for you to continue taking Accolate. More common side effects may include:

• Headache, infection, nausea
• Accidental injury, abdominal pain, allergic reactions (hives; swelling of the lips, tongue, face, arms, and legs; rash), back pain, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, generalized pain, indigestion.

Warnings and precautions before taking Accolate:

• If you take corticosteroids you should continue to take them while taking this medicine, even if your symptoms improve.
• If clinical symptoms or signs suggestive of liver dysfunction occur (e.g. anorexia, nausea, vomiting, right upper quadrant pain, fatigue, lethargy, flu-like symptoms, enlarged liver, pruritus and jaundice), Accolate should be discontinued. The serum transaminases, in particular serum ALT, should be measured immediately and the patient managed accordingly.

Drug Interaction :- If Accolate is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Accolate with the following:

• Aspirin (Ecotrin, Genuine Bayer, others)
• Astemizole (Hismanal)
• Blood-thinning drugs such as Coumadin
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• Erythromycin

Overdose

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• The symptoms of an overdose of zafirlukast are unknown.