Brand name:
Accolate
Pronounced: ACK-o-late
Generic name:
Zafirlukast
Why is Accolate prescribed?
Accolate helps prevent asthma attacks. It is prescribed for
long-term treatment.
Most important fact about Accolate
Accolate will not stop an asthma attack once it starts. You will
still need to use an airway-opening medication when an attack
occurs.
How should you take Accolate?
Accolate should be taken twice every day, whether or not you have
had any recent asthma attacks. Do not take Accolate with food.
Allow at least 1 hour to pass before eating, or wait for 2 hours
after a meal. You can continue to take Accolate while using another
medication to stop an attack.
--If you miss a dose...
Take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your
next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular
schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
--Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature in a dark, dry place.
Accolate side effects
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.
- Side effects may include:
Headache,
infection,
nausea
Why should Accolate not be prescribed?
If you have had an allergic reaction to Accolate or to any of its
ingredients, avoid Accolate.
Special warnings about Accolate
While taking Accolate, you should not stop--or even cut down
on--any other asthma medication you are using unless your doctor
recommends it. Remember that Accolate is not an airway-opening
medication. You will still need an inhaler to stop an attack.
If you have been taking an oral steroid drug and your doctor does
decide to cut back the dosage, there is a remote chance that
complications will follow. Inform your doctor of any new symptoms.
Also call your doctor if you develop any of the following: pain
in the upper right abdomen, nausea, fatigue, lethargy, loss of
appetite, itching, flu-like symptoms, or jaundice (yellowing of the
skin and eyes). These are signs of a liver problem--a rare side
effect of Accolate that tends to develop more often in women. If
tests show the problem to be serious, you'll have to stop using the
drug. The symptoms will disappear once you stop.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Accolate
A full stomach can reduce Accolate's effectiveness. Do not take
with meals.
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 (E.E.S., E-Mycin, others)
Heart and blood pressure medications called calcium channel
blockers, including Calan, Cardizem, and Procardia
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Terfenadine (Seldane)
Theophylline (Theo-Dur, others)
Tolbutamide (Orinase)
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Accolate should be taken during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor
immediately.
Accolate does find its way into breast milk and should not be
taken by nursing mothers.
Recommended dosage for Accolate
ADULTS
Overdosage
Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If
you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
- Symptoms of Accolate overdose may include:
Rash,
upset stomach
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