Asmakast Chewable tablets, prescribed to patients with asthma and/or seasonal allergic rhinitis, Asmakast 5 mg is suitable for children and adolescents from 6 to 14 years of age, the dose is one 5 mg chewable tablet to be taken once daily. Asmakast tablet should be chewed well and then swallowed, the chewable Asmakast tablet should not be swallowed whole without chewing.
Phenylketonuria Warning : Asmakast 5 mg chewable tablets contain aspartam (a source of the amino acid phenylalanine), so you should not give this medicine to your child if he or she has a condition called phenylketonuria, a rare hereditary medical condition that causes the amino acid,called phenylalanine, to build up in the body.
Phenylketonuria is caused by genetic disorder causing absence of the enzyme needed to break down phenylalanine. In the absence of the enzyme needed to process phenylalanine, a dangerous build-up occurs when a person with phenylketonuria eats foods containing protein or takes the artificial sweetener aspartam. Phenylketonuria can lead to serious health problems.
What is Asmakast? How does it work?
Composition: Asmakast tablets contain Montelukast as an active ingredient. Montelukast has been studied in children from 6 months to 14 years old, but the safety and efficacy of this drug has not been studied in children less than 6 months old. Studies have shown that montelukast does not affect the growth rate of children.
Asmakast 5 mg chewable tablets belong to a class of drugs called (leukotriene modifiers or leukotriene antagonists). This class of drugs works to by blocking (prevent/inhibit)the body’s ability to produce leukotriene, which plays an important role in the symptoms of asthma and chest or nasal allergies. Leukotriene inhibition plays an important role in the treatment of asthma and other allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria.
Possible side effects of leukotriene modifiers include flu-like symptoms, feeling nervous irritable, headache, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, and nasal congestion. .
Why do doctors prescribe Asmakast?
- Asmakast tablets are indicated to control/prevent symptoms caused by asthma, allergies (such as wheezing and shortness of breath), or when treating chronic lung diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis and chronic emphysema).
- Asmakast is also used to prevent exercise-induced asthma (shortness of breath and bouts of coughing or wheezing during or after exercise).
- Asmakast can be used to relieve symptoms of hay fever and allergic rhinitis (such as sneezing, stuffy/runny nose/itchy nose).
Asmakast 5 mg chewable tablets may be used as an alternative treatment option to inhaled corticosteroids (e.g. Sympicort or Seretide inhaler) in children ages 2 to 14 who have mild persistent asthma. Asmakast also indicated for the prevention of asthma attacks from 6 years of age and older, when the occurrence of asthma attacks is associated with exercise or physical exertion.
What is the dose of Asmakast?
Asmakast dosage for Asthma – for children from 6 to 14 years: The typical dose is one 5 mg chewable tablet taken once daily in the evening. The duration of treatment varies from person to person, and ranges from 14 days to 3 months.
Asmakast dosage for allergic rhinitis (seasonal or perennial) for children (6 to 14 years): The typical dose is one 5 mg chewable tablet taken once daily. Duration of treatment depends on the condition of the allergy.
- In acute (short-term) cases, start Taking it with the onset of symptoms and stopping when symptoms end, and it can be used again if symptoms return again.
- In chronic (long-term) cases, it can be taken daily throughout the exposure to the allergen (sometimes the treatment period with Asmakast can be extended throughout the spring season).
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and up-to-date information. However, because medicines affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible doses. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the appropriate doses for you or your child.
The dose of Asmakast is usually once a day, preferably at the same time of day every day (preferably in the evening before bedtime), as this will help you to remember to give the dose to your child regularly.
The child can also be given the dose with or without food, but you have to choose whether you will give your child the dose with or without food and then give it to him or her in the same way every day, this is to ensure that the same amount of medicine is absorbed by the child’s body every day.
What should I do if I miss a dose? If you forget to give your child a dose, do not give the missed dose and continue to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Do not give your child more than one dose of Asmakast in a 24 hour period.
What should you know about Asmakast?
Asmakast chewable tablets are not bronchodilator, so do not use Asmakast to treat sudden asthma attacks. If your child has a sudden asthma attack, use a quick relief inhaler such as Ventolin or steam sessions using a nebulizer as your doctor has told you.
Give your child the Asmakast dose regularly, even if he or she doesn’t have any symptoms. If your child’s doctor has prescribed Asmakast for asthma, your child should continue to take the medicine regularly, even if you think they are not having any symptoms. Asmakast work to prevent the occurrence of asthme attck.
Asmakast is not a cure for asthma or allergic rhinitis, but rather a treatment to control and prevent symptoms. You should continue using the medicine, for the full prescribed peroid, even if your child feels better .
Asmakast – FAQs
Q: Is Asmakast…cortisone?
No, Asmakast is an anti-allergic drug, and is often prescribed with inhalers or other asthma medications. It is useful to note that treatment with Asmakast reduces your child’s need for treatment with other approved medicines that contain corticosteroids.
Q: What is the duration of treatment with Asmakast?
The duration of use depends on the case being treated, and varies from one child to another. The usual duration of treatment is a month (30 days), but this dose can vary, the duration of treatment may range from 14 days to 3 continuous months in some cases.
Q: Does Asmakast help with cough?
Indeed, this medicine will benefit your child in relieving the cough or sneeze caused by chest allergies, or asthma. Asmakast is designed to prevent wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness and cough caused by asthma.
Q: How does Asmakast work?
Asmakast, simply can be considered an anti-allergic drug, and for further clarification, Asmakast treats allergy symptoms that occur as a result of the body’s secretion of leukotriene. Leukotriene is a chemical substance, secreted by immune cells in the body, when the body is exposed to an allergen such as Dust, pollen, pet dander, or some strong odour or other allergen.
The secretion of leukotriene in the body leads to the following symptoms: narrowing of the air passages, sneezing, a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, skin sensitivity, itchy throat and nose, redness, itching and rashes, and all of the above are characteristic symptoms of an allergic attack.
Leukotriene antagonists (such as Asmakast), as their name indicates, are medicines whose action is antagonising the leukotriene effect (ie, opposite to the effect of leukotriene) and therefore they work to relieve the symptoms of the astham or allergy.
What is leukotriene?
Leukotrienes are inflammatory chemicals released by the body after exposure to allergens. Leukotriene causes the muscles of the airways to contract, increasing mucus production. These chemicals play a major role in triggering allergy symptoms, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, and they also cause airways to narrow, making breathing difficult.
Leukotriene modifiers (leukotriene antagonists) are medications used to control allergic or allergic rhinitis, as well as to prevent asthma. These newer drugs work by blocking the action of leukotriene. Leukotriene antagonists are usually not used as the first choice of treatment.
What are the side effects of Asmakast?
Asmakast, like all other medicines, may cause side effects. If you notice undesirable side effects, you can tell your doctor, who will decide either to stop the treatment or to adjust the dose to reduce the severity of such side effect. Don’t stop taking your medicine suddenly, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
You should stop taking the medicine, and seek immediate medical help if you notice any of the following symptoms of hypersensitivity: difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, rash.
The possible side effects may include:
- Hyperactivity (feeling nervous or irritable).
- diarrhea.
- Eczematous dermatitis and rash.
Refernaces ATC code: R03DC03