Accolate
= Prescription Required 
= Generic Equvalent
|
Accolate 20mg Tablets
Zafirlukast
|
Accolate Prescription Drug Information
Zafirlukast (By mouth)
Zafirlukast (za-fir-LOO-kast)
Helps prevent asthma attacks.
Brand Name(s):Accolate
There may be other brand names for Accolate.
When Accolate Should Not Be Used:
You should not use Accolate if you have had an allergic reaction to zafirlukast, or if you are breastfeeding.
How to Use Accolate:
Tablet
- Your doctor will tell you how much of Accolate to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
- Take Accolate on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
- Never share your medicine with anyone.
If a dose of Accolate is missed:
- If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
How to Store and Dispose of Accolate:
- Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
- Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
- Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid While Taking Accolate:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
- Make sure your doctor knows if you are also taking aspirin, a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), or medicines to treat anxiety, asthma, arthritis, depression, diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, infection, seizures, or stomach problems.
- Tell your doctor if you are using medicines to treat HIV/AIDS (such as Crixivan®, Fortovase®, Invirase®, Retrovir®, Sustiva®, or Viracept®).
Warnings While Using Accolate:
- Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant, or if you have liver disease.
- Accolate helps prevent asthma attacks. For the medicine to work, you will need to take it on a regular schedule, even when you are not having problems with your asthma. If your asthma does not get better or if it gets worse while you are taking Accolate, tell your doctor.
- Accolate will not stop an asthma attack that has already started. Your doctor may prescribe another medicine for you to use in case of an acute asthma attack.
- If you use any type of corticosteroid medicine to control your asthma, keep using it as ordered by your doctor. This includes corticosteroid medicines that are taken by mouth or inhaled (such as cortisone, prednisone, Azmacort®, Celestone®, Cortone®, Deltasone®, Flovent®, Prelone® Pediapred®, Vanceril®).
- If any of your asthma medicines do not seem to be working as well as usual, call your doctor right away. Do not change your doses or stop using your medicines without asking your doctor.
- Accolate may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed and have problems with sleep. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away.
Possible Side Effects While Using Accolate:
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
- Redness, warmth, or itching of the skin
- Restlessness, anxiety, feeling irritable, mood or behavior changes, or thoughts of hurting yourself or others.
- Right-sided stomach pain, nausea, tiredness, or loss of appetite.
- Tremors.
- Unexplained fever and chills.
- Unusual dreams or trouble with sleeping.
- Worsening of asthma symptoms (such as increased wheezing, trouble breathing, or tightness in the chest).
- Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
If you notice these less serious side effects while taking Accolate, talk with your doctor:
- Headache.
- Mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by Accolate, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
