Accolate Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Accolate Tablet contains zafirlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist from the leukotriene modifiers drug class. It is a prescription asthma medicine used for the prophylaxis and long-term treatment of asthma in adults and children 5 years of age and older. Accolate works by blocking leukotrienes, chemicals that cause airway swelling, muscle tightening, and inflammation. It is meant for regular, long-term asthma control and is not used to treat a sudden asthma attack.

What is Accolate Tablet

Accolate is a prescription asthma medicine. It belongs to a group of drugs called leukotriene inhibitors, specifically a leukotriene receptor antagonist. It is used to prevent asthma attacks in adults and children 5 years of age and older.

Accolate Tablet uses

• Prophylaxis and chronic (long-term) treatment of asthma in adults and children 5 years of age and older
• Prevents asthma symptoms
• Helps reduce airway inflammation
• Helps prevent wheezing
• Helps reduce shortness of breath
• Supports long-term asthma control

Benefits of Accolate Tablet

• Improves daytime asthma symptoms
• Reduces nighttime awakenings due to asthma
• Reduces mornings with asthma symptoms
• Reduces need for rescue inhaler (beta2-agonist) use
• Improves lung function tests (FEV1 and peak flow rate)

How Accolate Tablet works

Accolate blocks the action of chemicals in the body called leukotrienes, which cause airway swelling, tightening of airway muscles, and inflammation. By blocking these chemicals, the medicine helps reduce asthma symptoms.

Accolate Tablet dosage

Take on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal, because food can reduce how well the body absorbs the medicine. This medicine is for long-term, regular asthma control, not for treating a sudden asthma attack. Keep taking it regularly as prescribed, even during periods without symptoms. Do not stop or change the dose of this or any other asthma medicine, including oral steroids, without your doctor's advice. Seek medical attention right away if your breathing problems get worse quickly or your medications do not seem to be working.

Available forms and strengths

• Film-coated tablets (10 mg and 20 mg)
• Chewable tablet (mentioned regarding phenylalanine content)

Side effects of Accolate Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Infection (such as cold symptoms, stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat)
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Stomach (abdominal) pain
• Weakness
• Fever

Serious

• Liver failure
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Eosinophilic conditions (including Churg-Strauss syndrome)
• Signs of allergic reaction: hives, blisters, severe itching, difficult breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Signs of blood vessel inflammation: flu-like symptoms, severe sinus pain, skin rash, numbness or pins-and-needles in arms or legs
• New or worsening mental problems: agitation, aggression, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, confusion, memory or attention problems, stuttering, tremors, uncontrolled muscle movements, suicidal thoughts or actions, hallucinations, sleep problems, vivid dreams, sleep-walking, compulsive or repetitive behaviors
• Liver problems: nausea, loss of appetite, upper right stomach pain, tiredness, itching, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine can rarely cause serious, even life-threatening, liver damage. Watch for signs of liver problems and contact your doctor right away if they occur.
• This medicine is not meant to treat a sudden asthma attack; it is for long-term prevention only.
• Taking this medicine with warfarin (a blood thinner) can significantly increase bleeding risk, so blood clotting times need close monitoring.
• In rare cases, people taking this medicine, especially while reducing steroid medicines, have developed a serious condition involving high eosinophil blood cell counts, lung inflammation, or vasculitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome).
• Mental health changes, including insomnia and depression, have been reported with this medicine.
• It is not known if Accolate will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• Accolate passes into breast milk, and women who are breastfeeding should not take this medicine.
• No dose adjustment is needed for people with kidney problems.
• Do not use this medicine if you have liver disease, including cirrhosis, and tell your doctor if you have ever had liver disease. This medicine has not been studied in people with hepatitis or long-term cirrhosis studies.
• Alcohol may add stress to the liver, so caution is appropriate.
• Accolate usually does not directly impair driving, but avoid driving if dizziness occurs.

Storage

• Store at controlled room temperature, 20-25°C (68-77°F)
• Protect from light and moisture
• Dispense in the original air-tight container
• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light
• Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, blisters, severe itching, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of blood vessel inflammation, such as flu-like symptoms, severe sinus pain, skin rash, or numbness or tingling in your arms or legs.
• Stop the medicine and call your doctor immediately if you have unusual changes in mood or behavior, such as agitation, confusion, depression, sleep problems, compulsive behaviors, hallucinations, or thoughts of suicide.
• Call your doctor immediately if your asthma symptoms get worse or do not improve, or if you develop signs of liver problems like nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, tiredness, itching, dark urine, or yellowing of skin or eyes.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention or contact your local poison control center.

Alternatives

• Montelukast
• Zileuton
• Budesonide inhaler