Key Concepts
Drug Classification & Overview
Pharmacologic Class: Leukotriene modifiers (leukotriene receptor antagonists and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors) Agents: - Montelukast (Singulair): leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA); most widely used - Zafirlukast (Accolate): LTRA; less commonly used - Zileuton (Zyflo): 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitor; different mechanism; requires liver monitoring Drug Overview: | Feature | Montelukast | Zafirlukast | Zileuton | |---|---|---|---| | Mechanism | LTD4 receptor block | LTD4 receptor block | 5-LOX inhibition | | Dosing | Once daily (evening) | Twice daily (empty stomach) | 4×/day | | Age approved | 2+ years (asthma) | 5+ years | 12+ years | | Liver monitoring | No | Check LFTs | Yes — LFTs required | | Neuropsychiatric warning | FDA Black Box | Yes | Yes | | Main use | Asthma maintenance; allergic rhinitis | Asthma maintenance | Asthma (refractory) | | OTC availability | No (Rx) | No (Rx) | No (Rx) | On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable data—notice the mismatch before you commit. If the stem names a license or role, reread that line; scope errors are classic trap answers...
