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Accolate. |
Without a Prescription
Accolate (which is also commonly known as Zafirlukast) is a Leukotrienes inhibitor. Leukotrienes are substances found in the human body that are normally associated with the undesirable blockage and sometimes inflammation of the airway muscles, leading to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Accolate is a medicine normally prescribed by doctors to patients suffering from asthma (it can prevent asthma attacks), but a treatment with Accolate can have other purposes too.
Contraindications
A patient who is taking Accolate can aggravate his or her liver disease (if he or she is suffering from such a condition). Therefore it is highly recommended that the patient should discuss with his doctor if he or she suffers from liver disease or is drinking any alcohol beverage. If you are taking other drugs (such as warfarin or coumadin) while following a treatment with Accolate you are exposing yourself to a generally high risk of lung bleeding. Inform your doctor if you are taking any such drugs before starting a treatment with Accolate, as he might ask you perform special monitoring during your treatment. If you are pregnant or are planning to be so soon it is best that you consult a doctor before starting a treatment with Accolate. If you are breast feeding an infant you should discuss it with your doctor if you may start a treatment with Accolate, as it is known that it can pass into breast milk and harm a nursing child.
If the patient is 60 or older, he is more likely to experience Accolate's side effects. Zafirlukast is not recommended to be prescribed to children under 5 years old.
Intake Guidelines
While following a treatment with Accolate, the patient must follow the exact instructions that the doctor has given him. Each dose of the drug should be accompanied by a glass of water. It is recommended that the drug should be taken in on an empty stomach, 1 or 2 hours prior to a meal. Even if the effects of the treatment are not to be seen after a while, the patient should not put an end to his treatment by himself, without consulting it with his doctor. If you doctor has prescribed you other asthma medications, feel free to take them, even during your treatment with Accolate, because although the drug prevents asthma attacks, it does not stop them from happening (it does not cure asthma).
Dosage
The correct dosage of Accolate should be obtained by the patient's personal doctor, because the suitable dosage of the drug depends on several factors (for example: the patient's age).
Overdose
The symptoms that are induced by an overdose with Accolate have not been clearly established. If you have taken a bigger dose of the drug than prescribed by your doctor (or if you are experiencing any abnormal or disturbing side effects) you should seek medical attention immediately.
Missed Dose
It is recommended that the patient should not miss any of his doses of Accolate. However, if he or she happens to miss one, it should be taken in as soon as the patient remembers. If it is almost time for another dose of Accolate, it is best for the patient to skip the missed dose and to continue following his regular treatment schedule. Taking a double dose of the drug is strictly prohibited.
Side Effects
A treatment with Accolate can result in liver problems which are normally characterized by:
- Fatigue or tiredness;
- Itching;
- Jaundice;
- Nausea;
- Pain in your upper left area of the stomach;
A treatment with Zafirlukast can cause allergic reactions and even some side effects like:
- Abnormal open sores;
- Aggravation of old respiratory problems;
- Bruising;
- Difficulty in breathing;
- Hives;
- Numbness;
- Pain;
- Rash;
- Swelling of tongue, face or lips;
- Throat closing;
- Tingling;
If you are experiencing any of these side effects during your treatment with Accolate you should stop taking the drug and inform you doctor as soon as possible
Other side effects which are, however, less serious can also be induced by a prolonged treatment with Accolate. If you are experiencing any of the next side effects you can continue your treatment but it is recommended that you inform your doctor as soon as possible:
- Dizziness;
- Headache;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
Inform your doctor if you are experiencing anything unusual during your treatment.
Interactions
Inform your physician if you follow a treatment with any of the following drugs:
- Aspirin;
- Erythromycin;
- Theophylline;
- Warfarin;
Your physician could make adjustments to your dose of Accolate or he could tell you to stop your treatment.
There are other drugs on the market that can interact with Accolate. Therefore it is best that you tell your physician if you are taking over-the-counter medicines (even herbal).
Other Brand Names
In some countries Accolate may also be known as:
- Accoleit;
- Aeronix;
- Olmoran;
- Resma;
- Zafirlukast;
- Zafirst;
- Zuvair;
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