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Zafirlukast |
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What is Zafirlukast and why is it prescribed? Zafirlukast is prescribed for long-term treatment to help prevent asthma attacks. Zafirlukast will not stop an asthma attack once it starts. You will still need to use an airway-opening medication when an attack occurs. How should you take Zafirlukast? Follow your doctors directions for taking Zafirlukast. Zafirlukast should be taken twice every day. Do not take Zafirlukast with food. Allow at least one hour to pass before eating, or wait for two hours after a meal. You can continue to take Zafirlukast while using another medication to stop an attack. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at once. Storage Zafirlukast at room temperature in a dark, dry place. Are there any Zafirlukast side effects? Zafirlukast side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. More common Zafirlukast side effects may include headache, infection, and nausea. Less common Zafirlukast side effects may include accidental injury, abdominal pain, allergic reactions, back pain, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, generalized pain, indigestion, joint pain, muscle aches, vomiting, and weakness. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Zafirlukast? If Zafirlukast is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. A full stomach can reduce the effectiveness of Zafirlukast. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Zafirlukast with Aspirin (Ecotrin, Genuine Bayer, others), Astemizole (Hismanal), Blood-thinning drugs (such as Coumadin), Carbamazepine (Tegretol), Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), Erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, others), Heart and blood pressure medications (called calcium channel blockers, including Calan, Cardizem, and Procardia), Phenytoin (Dilantin), Terfenadine (Seldane), Theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), or Tolbutamide (Orinase). Are there any special warnings about Zafirlukast? While taking Zafirlukast, you should not stop, or even cut down on, any other asthma medication you are using unless your doctor recommends it. If you have been taking an oral steroid drug and your doctor does decide to cut back the dosage, there is a remote chance that complications will follow. Inform your doctor of any new symptoms. Also call your doctor if you develop any of the following: pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea, fatigue, lethargy, loss of appetite, itching, flu-like symptoms, or jaundice. These are signs of a liver problem, a rare side effect of Zafirlukast that tends to develop more often in women. If tests show the problem to be serious, you will have to stop using the drug. The symptoms will disappear once you stop. |
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Information on this website is provided for educational purposes and should not replace discussions with your doctor. |
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