Pregnancy Risk Category B
How supplied
Tablets: 20 mg
Action
Selectively competes for leukotriene receptor sites, blocking inflammatory action.
Indications & dosage
Prophylaxis and maintenance treatment of asthma--
Adults and children age 12 and older: 20 mg P.O. b.i.d. taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
Adverse reactions
CNS: headache, asthenia, dizziness, pain.
GI: nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dyspepsia.
Hepatic: elevated liver enzyme levels.
Musculoskeletal: myalgia, back pain.
Other: infection, accidental injury, fever.
Interactions
Drug-drug. Aspirin: increased plasma levels of zafirlukast. Monitor patient.
Erythromycin, theophylline: decreased plasma levels of zafirlukast. Monitor patient.
Warfarin: increased PT. Monitor PT and INR levels, and adjust dosage of anticoagulant, as ordered.
Effects on diagnostic tests
None reported.
Contraindications
Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to drug.
Nursing considerations
Patient teaching
*Liquid contains alcohol. **May contain tartrazine. †Canada ‡Australia §U.K. OTCOver the counter
Reactions may be common, uncommon, life-threatening, or COMMON AND LIFE-THREATENING