Accolate and/or Equivalents
Drug | Related Drug Names |
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Accolate 20mg and/or Equivalents | Accolate |
Accolate
Accolate Drug Description
The generic name of the drug Accolate is zafirlukast. It is a pale yellow to white powder. It is amorphous in nature and is sparingly soluble in water. The drug is very slightly soluble in methanol and readily soluble in acetone, dimethylsulphoxide and tetrahydrofuran.
Accolate is available for oral administration in the form of 10 mg & 20 mg tablets. Each film-coated tablet contains zafirlukast as the primary ingredient and croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, providine, lactose, hypromellose, microsrytalline cellulose and titanium dioxide as the inactive ingredients.
Conditions Treated by Accolate
Physicians use Accolate for prevention and treatment of mild to moderate chronic asthma in patients older than five years. However Accolate is not effective in treating acute attacks of asthma. Zafirlukast is a synthetic peptide leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) used for treating asthma. Leukotrienes are certain chemicals synthesized by the body from arachidonic acid.
Particular allergens cause the release of leukotrienes. This promotes the inflammation in the lungs. Accolate acts by blocking the leukotrienes D4 (LTD4) and E4 (LTE4) and hence retards the inflammation.
Accolate Dosage Information
a.) Typical dosage recommendations
It is important to take Accolate as instructed by the doctor. The advised dose is 10 mg, twice a day for children from 5 years to 12 years and 20 mg, twice a day for individuals above 12 years. Take Accolate orally about 2 hours before or after meals. It is not advisable to take Accolate with meals as food prevents the absorption of the drug. Take a glass of water along with the medication. Do not crush or chew the tablet.
It is vital to take each dose at scheduled times of the day. This improves efficacy of the drug in treating asthma. Complete the entire course prescribed by the physician. If symptoms persist or increase after taking the medication, let your doctor know. He could change the dosage.
b.) Missing a dose
If you forget a dose of Accolate, take it as soon as you remember about it. However, if it is time for your next dose, leave out the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time, as usual. Do not make up for the omission by taking a double dose of the medication.
c.) Overdosing
An overdose of Accolate may cause skin rashes and stomach upsets. It is crucial to seek emergency help, if you suspect an overdose of the drug. Call the local emergency or poison control centre.
Accolate Warnings
It is important to let your doctor know if you are allergic to Accolate or any other drug, should your doctor advise you to take Accolate for your condition. Additionally, one or more of the inactive components of the drug may induce allergies. Let your doctor know if you are on medication for other conditions. A pregnant woman can take Accolate, if the possible benefits of the drug outweigh the risks associated with it. Since Accolate passes into breast milk, nursing mothers shouldn't take this medication, unless expressly advised by their physicians.
Inform your doctor if you have liver problems like cirrhosis. Accolate may cause serious and even fatal liver troubles in individuals. Your doctor might want to monitor you by conducting liver function tests periodically. Get the tests performed, as advised. Look for symptoms of liver diseases like passing dark yellow urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pains and fatigue.
It is important to use Accolate with caution, if you are prone to depression and mood changes. Accolate may cause individuals to develop mental instability. Let your doctor know if you experience agitation, irritability, anxiety, depression, sleep troubles, hallucinations or any other unusual emotion. It is vital to contact your physician, if suicidal thoughts occur after starting medication.
It is important to know that Accolate can treat moderate forms of asthma. Moreover, Accolate does not stop an attack once it has begun. If you use a bronchodilator inhaler, carry it with you at all times. Do not administer Accolate to children less than five years of age. Exercise caution while using the drug in elderly people. If the drug does not reduce symptoms, contact the doctor. Store the medication in a cool and dry place out of reach of children and pets. Do not keep the tablets in your bathroom cabinet. Ask your pharmacist about a safe method to discard unused medicines.
Accolate Side Effects
Zafirlukast or the inactive ingredients may induce allergies in individuals. Look for immediate medical assistance, if you have trouble in breathing. An allergic reaction could be serious. Other signs of allergic reactions are rashes, hives and swelling of your throat, tongue, lips or face. The possible side effects of Accolate are liver diseases, mood changes, fever, bruising, bleeding, severe tingling, itching, numbness, muscle weakness, body pains, stomach cramps, influenza, fatigue, joint pains and loss of appetite.
The above list of adverse effects is not exhaustive. An individual may experience other symptoms. Inform your physician about any unusual feeling after taking the drug.
Elderly individuals may be particularly sensitive to the drug and may develop persistent headaches, nausea and diarrhoea. Some patients may develop a new kind of cough and hoarseness of throat. Accolate may aggravate asthma attacks in a few individuals.
Accolate Drug Interactions
Accolate interacts with a number of drugs. It is vital to let your doctor know about other medications you might be having. Clinical studies have indicated that Accolate interacts with warfarin (Coumadin). The interaction results in thinning of blood and a reduced ability of the blood to clot. This can increase the chances of bleeding.
Other studies have indicated that Accolate slows down the activity of cytochrome isozymes CYP 2C9 and. CYP 3A4. These are essential for metabolism of many drugs. These drugs include:
- Verelan (verapamil)
- Isoptin (verapamil)
- Halcion (triazolam)
- Zocor (simvastatin)
- Quinidex (quinidine)
- Quinaglute (quinidine)
- Mevacor (lovastatin)
- Cardizem (diltiazem)
- Dilacor (diltiazem)
- Norvasc (amlodipine)
- Procardia XL (nifedipine XR)
- Adalat (nifedipine)
- Cardene (nicardipine)
- Nimotop (nimodipine)
- Dynacirc (isradipine)
- Plendil (felodipine)
- dihydropyridine
- Neoral (cyclosporine)
- Sandimmune (cyclosporine)
- Tegretol (carbamazepine)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Luminal (phenobarbital)
- Dilantin (phenytoin)
Drugs containing calcium channel blockers. It is advisable to exercise caution while using Accolate on patients taking one or more of the drugs mentioned above.
Erythromycin lowers the absorption of Accolate, reducing the efficacy of this product. Other medications not listed here could interfere with the action, as well. It is best to consult with your health care giver to see if Accolate is right for you.
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Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Accolate and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information