Zyflo Uses

Zyflo is used for preventing asthma attacks in adults and children as young as 12 years old. However, because Zyflo is not used to treat asthma attacks when they occur, everyone who takes Zyflo for asthma should also have a rescue medication (such as an albuterol inhaler) available for emergencies. Healthcare providers may also occasionally recommend Zyflo for certain "off-label" uses. Among these potential off-label Zyflo uses is the treatment of allergies.

Zyflo Medication

In February 2008, the manufacturer of Zyflo announced that it has discontinued making this product. The manufacturer stated that since the longer-acting version, Zyflo CR, became available in 2007, use of immediate-release Zyflo declined significantly. Zyflo CR will still be available.

An Overview of Zyflo Uses

Zyflo^® (zileuton) is a prescription medication used for preventing asthma attacks.

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects your airways, which are the tubes that carry air into and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, the inside walls of your airways are inflamed (swollen). The inflammation makes the airways very sensitive, and they tend to react strongly to things that you are allergic to or find irritating (see Asthma Triggers). When the airways react, they narrow and less air flows to your lungs. This is called bronchospasm. It causes asthma symptoms like wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), coughing, tightness in the chest, and trouble breathing.

While there is no asthma cure, asthma can be controlled. There are many different asthma treatments, including fast-acting "rescue medications" for treating an asthma attack and longer-acting "controller medications" used to prevent asthma attacks. Zyflo is a controller medication, used to help prevent asthma attacks (but not to treat an attack). Everyone who takes Zyflo for asthma should also have a rescue medication (such as an albuterol inhaler) available for emergencies.

(Zyflo Uses Continued: Page 2)