Accolate helps prevent asthma attacks. It is prescribed for long-term treatment.
Accolate will not stop an asthma attack once it starts. You will still need to use an airway-opening medication when an attack occurs.
Accolate acts by blocking the action of leukotrienes which are chemicals released by the body as part of the inflammation response.
Leukotrienes act in many areas of the body. In the lungs, they act in two ways causing the airways to narrow. They cause the muscles lining the airways to contract thereby making the airways smaller. In addition, leukotrienes cause inflammation of the lining of the airways which results in narrowing of the airways and increased mucus production.
By blocking the actions of leukotrienes, Accolate prevents the increased mucus production, inflammation and narrowing of the airways that occurs in asthma. This helps prevent asthma attacks from occurring. Accolate is only used to prevent asthma attacks rather than to treat them.
Why is this drug prescribed?
- Asthma
- allergy to active ingredients;
- constipation;
- diarrhoea;
- disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea;
- face or tongue;
- headache;
- infection;
- nausea;
- nausea and vomiting;
- severe swelling of lips;
- skin rashes;
- vomiting or abdominal pain;
ADULTS
The usual dose for adults and children 12 years of age and over is 20 mg twice a day.
CHILDREN
The usual dose for children 5 to 11 years of age is 10 mg twice a day. Safety and effectiveness in children under 5 years of age have not been established.
