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Zileuton
- indication:For the prophylaxis and chronic treatment of asthma in adults and children 12 years of age and older.
- pharmacologypharmacology:
- mechanism: Leukotrienes are substances that induce numerous biological effects including augmentation of neutrophil and eosinophil migration, neutrophil and monocyte aggregation, leukocyte adhesion, increased capillary permeability, and smooth muscle contraction. These effects contribute to inflammation, edema, mucus secretion, and bronchoconstriction in the airways of asthmatic patients. Zileuton relieves such symptoms through its selective inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase, the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of leukotrienes from arachidonic acid. Specifically, it inhibits leukotriene LTB4, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 formation. Both the R(+) and S(-) enantiomers are pharmacologically active as 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors in <i>in vitro</i> systems. Due to the role of leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of asthma, modulation of leukotriene formation by interruption of 5-lipoxygenase activity may reduce airway symptoms, decrease bronchial smooth muscle tone, and improve asthma control.
- toxicity: The oral minimum lethal doses in mice and rats were 500-4000 and 300-1000 mg/kg in various preparations, respectively (providing greater than 3 and 9 times the systemic exposure [AUC] achieved at the maximum recommended human daily oral dose, respectively).
- absorprion: Rapidly and almost completely absorbed. The absolute bioavailability is unknown.
- halflife: 2.5 hours
- roouteelimination: Elimination of zileuton is predominantly via metabolism with a mean terminal half-life of 2.5 hours. The urinary excretion of the inactive N-dehydroxylated metabolite and unchanged zileuton each accounted for less than 0.5% of the dose.
- volumedistribution: * 1.2 L/kg
- clearance: * Apparent oral cl=7 mL/min/kg