ZAFIRLUKAST

(za FIR loo kast) Brand: Accolate

What is the most significant information I must know about zafirlukast?

• Zafirlukast will not work quick satis to treat an asthma onslaught that has already begun. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medication to treat an asthma onslaught. Conversation with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing attacks.

• It may take up to different weeks till your symptoms improve. Hold using the medicine as directed and speak your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after different weeks of treatment.

• Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medication is not working as well as normal, or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, conversation with your doctor.

What is zafirlukast?

• Zafirlukast is a leukotriene (loo-koe-TRY-een) inhibitor. Leukotrienes are chemicals your body releases when you breathe in an allergen (such as pollen). These chemicals reason swelling in your lungs and tightening of the muscles near your airways, which can result in asthma symptoms.

• Zafirlukast is used to for chronic treatment of asthma, and to prevent asthma attacks in adults and children as young as 5 years old.

• Do not give this medicine to a baby without a doctor's advice.

• Zafirlukast may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking zafirlukast?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to zafirlukast, or if you have liver malady (including cirrhosis).

• To create certain you can safely take zafirlukast, speak your doctor if you have liver disease.

• The chewable tablet form of this medicine may contain up to 0.842 milligrams of phenylalanine. Conversation to your doctor till using this form of zafirlukast if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

• FDA pregnancy category B. This medicine is not expected to be deleterious to an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Zafirlukast can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not breast-feed while you are taking zafirlukast.

How must I take zafirlukast?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Zafirlukast is generally taken twice daily. Follow your doctor's instructions.

• Take zafirlukast on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour till or 2 hours after a meal.

• It may take up to different weeks till your symptoms improve. Hold using the medicine as directed and speak your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after different weeks of treatment.

• Asthma is generally treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medicine manual or patient instructions provided with every medicine. Do not change your doses or medicine schedule without your doctor's advice, even if you have no asthma symptoms.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include skin rash and upset stomach.

What must I avoid while taking zafirlukast?

• Avoid situations or activities that may trigger an asthma attack.

What are the possible side effects of zafirlukast?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· worsening asthma symptoms;

· new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing;

· mood or behavior changes, anxiety, depression, sleep problems (insomnia);

· skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness; or

· nausea, pain in your upper stomach, loss of appetite, flu symptoms, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· headache;

· diarrhea, stomach pain;

· weakness;

· dizziness;

· muscle pain; or

· sore throat, cool symptoms.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect zafirlukast?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· aspirin;

· a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

· tolbutamide (Orinase);

· erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole);

· theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron, Uniphyl);

· carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro, Tegretol); or

· phenytoin (Dilantin).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with zafirlukast. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about zafirlukast.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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