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.
Zileuton (Zyflo
®) is a prescription medication used to prevent
asthma attacks in adults and children as young as 12 years old.
Zileuton is made by Critical Therapeutics, Inc.
Zileuton is part of a group of medications called leukotriene synthesis inhibitors. Leukotrienes are chemicals produced by the body in response to allergens or other problems. In the lungs, leukotrienes cause swelling and inflammation in the airways and constriction of the muscles of the respiratory tract.
Zileuton works by stopping the body from producing leukotrienes, preventing these chemicals from causing
asthma symptoms.
In studies of zileuton for asthma, people taking the drug had improved breathing and fewer daytime and nighttime asthma symptoms, compared to those not taking the medication. Zileuton was also shown to be safe and effective for treating
asthma in children as young as 12 years old.