What is zileuton?
Zileuton is a leukotriene (loo-koe-TRY-een) inhibitor. Leukotrienes are chemicals your body releases when you breathe in an allergen (such as pollen). These chemicals cause swelling in your lungs and tightening of the muscles around your airways, which can result in asthma symptoms.
Zileuton is used to prevent asthma attacks in adults and children as young as 12 years old.
Zileuton may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about zileuton?
Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). These may be early signs of liver problems.
Do not use zileuton to treat an asthma attack that has already begun. It will not work fast enough to reverse your symptoms. Use only a fast-acting inhalation medication to treat an asthma attack. Talk with your doctor if any of your asthma medications do not seem to work as well in treating or preventing asthma attacks.
It may take up to a few weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using zileuton as directed, even if you feel fine. Having no asthma symptoms is a sign that the medication is working.
Call your doctor right away if you feel that this medicine is not working as well as usual, or if it makes your condition worse. If it seems like you need to use more of any of your medications in a 24-hour period, talk with your doctor.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking zileuton. Alcohol can increase your risk of liver damage.
Call your doctor at once if you have any mood or behavior changes, anxiety, depression, or thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking zileuton?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to zileuton, or if you have liver disease.
If you drink large amounts of alcohol or have a history of liver disease, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take zileuton
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether zileuton is harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether zileuton passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. . Do not take zileuton without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give this medication to a child without a doctor's advice.