Accolate is a leukotriene receptor antagonist. Accolate may be used for conditions as determined by your doctor.
ACCOLATE TABLETS SHOULD BE USED ONLY TWICE A DAY
ACCOLATE is used to control asthma symptoms, and prevent your asthma from getting
worse. The effect of ACCOLATE lasts for up to 12 hours. That's why it is important to take
ACCOLATE twice a day, in the morning and evening. Regular ACCOLATE use will help to
control your symptoms; all day and all night.
ACCOLATE SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN WITH MEALS
You should take your ACCOLATE tablets on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2
hours after meals). This will ensure you absorb as much medicine as possible each time.
ACCOLATE SHOULD NOT BE USED AS RELIEF MEDICATION
ACCOLATE does not act quickly enough to be used as a relief medication. If you get a
sudden attack of wheezing and breathlessness between doses of ACCOLATE, you should take
one or two puffs from a fast-acting relief medication (e.g., formoterol, terbutaline, salbutamol)
that your doctor has given you.
Remember, if you have an attack that does not get better when you take the relief medication
you should see your doctor right away. You may need emergency treatment.
You should tell your doctor as soon as possible if you:
? are getting more attacks of wheezing, breathlessness or chest tightness,
? are using an increasing amount of fast-acting relief medication,
? start to wake up at night with chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath.
HOW YOUR MEDICINE WORKS
ACCOLATE is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that blocks substances called leukotrienes.
Leukotrienes cause narrowing and swelling of airways in your lungs. Blocking leukotrienes
improves asthma symptoms and helps prevent asthma attacks.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE BEFORE TAKING YOUR MEDICINE
Have you ever had to stop taking another medication for your breathing problems because it
caused problems or you were allergic to it? Have you ever been told that you have problems
with your liver? If the answer is YES to either of these questions, make sure your doctor or
pharmacist knows as soon as possible.
Make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are taking (including nonprescription
or over the counter products), especially blood thinners (e.g. COUMADIN?,
allergy medications (e.g., SELDANE?, HISMANAL?), acetylsalicylic acid (e.g., Aspirin?),
antibiotics, and theophylline.
You should tell your doctor if you have ever had a bad, unusual or allergic reaction to
zafirlukast or any of the other ingredients in ACCOLATE tablets.
USE OF THIS MEDICATION DURING PREGNANCY OR BREAST FEEDING
Do not take ACCOLATE during pregnancy or while breast-feeding without discussing this
with your doctor first. Similarly, let your doctor know about future pregnancies you are
planning.
TAKING YOUR MEDICINE
Follow your doctor's instructions about when and how to take your tablets. Please READ
THE LABEL on the package. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. For patients
12 years of age and older: the usual treatment with ACCOLATE is 20 mg twice daily.
? Swallow each tablet whole with a full glass of water.
? Do not take your tablet(s) with a meal (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after
meals).
? Try to take your medicine at the same times each day.
Using ACCOLATE twice a day, regularly, is very important. Your tablets come in blister
cards of 15, enough for 7 days, plus one extra tablet. (So, two cards supply exactly 15 days,
4 cards supply 30 days). All tablets in each card are the same. To help you remember your
schedule, fourteen tablets are labelled with the days of the week, 2 spots per day, (a.m. and
p.m.). You can start ACCOLATE at any time. When starting a card, punch out and take the
tablet labelled 'Start' noting the day and time you took it. Take your next tablet approximately
12 hours later, punching out the tablet that corresponds with that date and time (a.m. or p.m.).
Continue following the calendar system to ensure that you take a morning and evening dose
every day. When you finish a card, begin another approximately 12 hours later, at 'Start', and
follow the calendar system again. As you get to the end of your last card, call your pharmacist
for a refill, preferably before using the last four tablets.
REMEMBER: Do not stop taking your tablets even if you are feeling well, unless your
doctor tells you.
UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS THAT MAY BE EXPERIENCED WITH ACCOLATE
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you think you have any of these or any other problems.
As with all medicines, undesirable effects are sometimes experienced. With ACCOLATE
these may include headache or gastrointestinal disturbances (indigestion or stomach upsets).
These are usually mild. Feeling of discomfort, infections and sleeplessness have also been
reported. Allergic reactions including skin rash and itching, blood disorders, edema (swelling
caused by a build-up of fluid) and pain in the joints and muscles have been seen in a very
small number of patients given ACCOLATE. Tell your doctor if any of these problems occur.
Tell your doctor if you start to bruise easily, have unusual bleeding or experience persistent
fever or sore throat.
Rarely ACCOLATE may cause some changes to occur in your liver, which may be of a
serious nature. If you think you have any of the following, tell your doctor immediately.
? feel sick,
? feel tired or lacking energy,
? feel like you have flu,
? feel like you have lost your appetite,
? feel itchy,
? have pain on the right side of your stomach, just below your ribs,
? have a yellow colouring of your skin and eyes (jaundice)
? have dark urine
? have discoloured and/or pale stools.
Consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the above signs or symptoms.
Very rarely severe liver injury, including liver failure (which may result in liver
transplantation or death), has been observed.
A condition, which includes a combination of certain persistent or worsening symptoms, has
been reported rarely in patients given ACCOLATE. These symptoms may include: a flu-like
illness, rash, pins and needles or numbness of arms or legs, and severe sinusitis. These have
occurred usually, but not always, in patients whose oral corticosteroid medicine for asthma is
being reduced. Although ACCOLATE has not been shown to cause this condition, you must
tell your physician immediately if you experience a combination of these symptoms.
IF YOU TAKE TOO MUCH
If you accidentally take a larger dose than recommended, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
For an excessive overdose tell your doctor immediately or contact your hospital emergency
department.
IF YOU MISS A DOSE
If you forget to take a dose, do not worry. Take another tablet just as soon as you remember.
BUT if it is near the time for the next dose, wait until this dose is due. Then go on as before.
Do not take a double dose.
STORING YOUR MEDICINE
Keep your medicine where children cannot reach it. Your medicine can harm them.
You should store your tablets between 15 and 30?C (room temperature). Keep your tablets in
the original package.
If your doctor decides to stop your treatment, return your tablets to the pharmacist for
disposal.
Do not take your tablets after the expiry date on the package. Return the tablets to your
pharmacist for disposal.
WHAT'S IN YOUR ACCOLATE TABLET
Each ACCOLATE tablet contains 20 mg of zafirlukast. Each tablet is film coated and also
contains the inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate,
microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, magnesium stearate, hypromellose and titanium dioxide.
REMEMBER: This medicine was prescribed only for YOU. Only a doctor knows who can
use it safely. Never give it to someone else. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the
same as yours.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you go into hospital, let the medical staff know that you are taking ACCOLATE.
If you have any questions or are not sure about anything to do with your medicine, then ask
your doctor or pharmacist. You may need to read this leaflet again. PLEASE DO NOT
THROW IT AWAY until you have finished your medicine.
This leaflet alerts you to some of the times you should call your doctor. Other situations
which cannot be predicted may arise. Nothing about this leaflet should stop you from calling
your doctor or pharmacist with any questions or concerns you have about using ACCOLATE.
To Order Accolate
We require a valid doctor's prescription to process your pharmacy order. You can mail, fax or email your prescription to us. Further details on how to submit your prescription to us can be found during the checkout process or on our How to Order Prescription Drugs page.
Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute advice provided by your family physician or other medical professional. We require a valid doctor's prescription for all pharmacy orders.
