Accolate Side Effects
Serious side effects
If severe allergic reaction occurs, with symptoms like rashes/blisters, difficult breathing, tight chest, and swelling of the face, contact a physician immediately.
- joint and muscle pains, with abnormal sinus pain and swelling
- mental and behavioral abnormalities including agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, restlessness, depression and suicidal thoughts
- sleeping troubles like strange dreams or trouble falling or staying asleep
- shortness of breath and increasing breathing problems, with chest pains
- swelling of the appendages, with easy bruising or bleeding
- burning, numbness and tingling in the skin
- liver problems including jaundice, itching and dark colored urine, severe stomach pain, persistent nausea/vomiting
- coughing up blood and signs of an infection
Common Side effects
- stomach problems including diarrhea, mild abdominal pain, loss of appetite and mild nausea
- headaches and dizziness, with mild sore throat and fever/chills
Warnings & Recalls for Accolate
Black Box Warning
After high profile suicides in 2009, the FDA issued a Black Box Warning to Accolate, along with other drugs, to warn patients of severe mood and behavioral changes when taking the drug.Other warnings
Patients who are allergic to Accolate, other leukotriene blockers or any of its ingredients (croscarmellose sodium, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, hypromellose, titanium dioxide and zafirlukast) should NOT take this drug.Those who have had a history of liver problems, previous mood or mental problems, liver damage or who have had previous steroid usage should use Accolate with extreme caution and physician regulation.Accolate should be used with caution in the elderly, as these patients may be more sensitive to its side effects.Contraindications:Accolate is contraindicated in anticoagulants, erythromyciin, anticonvulsants, channel blockers, cisapride, cyclosporine, theophylline, tolbutamide, cytochrome isozymes, carbamazepine, alprazolam and dihydropyridine.Felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, amlodipine, diltiazem, lovastatin, quinidine, simvastatin, triazolam and verpamil are also contraindicated.Family Planning:Accolate has been given pregnancy category B by the FDA meaning that harm during pregnancy cannot be discounted and therefore Accolate should only be used during pregnancy when the benefits outweigh the risks.Nursing mothers should be advised that Accolate passes through breast milk, and it may cause harm to infants. Patients should discuss the benefits and risks with their doctor to make an educated decision on whether or not to continue the drug while nursing.
Accolate Treatment and Use
What is Accolate?
Accolate | Zafirlukast is an asthma used to decrease the occurrence of chronic asthmatic symptoms in patients 5 years of age and older. It can also be used to prevent exercise-induced asthma, as well as allergic rhinitis and hay fever symptoms. Since the drug starts working in 3-14 days, it is not recommended for immediate use when treating an asthma attack.
How does Accolate work?
Accolate works by reducing the inflammation within airways and blocking leukotrienes (substances that worsen asthma), and therefore reducing the need of an inhaler over time.
Dosage Information
Accolate is available in 10 mg and 20 mg tablet dosages.
The recommended dose for treating asthma in children (5-11 years) is 10 mg twice a day, and 20 mg twice a day for those above the age of 12. Accolate should be taken 1-2 hours after meals, on an empty stomach. A physician may increase or decrease a dosage depending on the conditions of the patient.
Other Names for Accolate
Accolate is also known as Zafirlukast
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Accolate
