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Allopurinol
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Description
Allopurinol is an antigout agent which is used to prevent gout attacks by reducing the uric acid production. It should be started at low doses and increase gradually. It is not recommended in the patients with the known history of allergy.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Allopurinol
Joint pain
Skin rash
Nausea and Vomiting
Stomach pain
Yellow colored eyes or skin
Dizziness
Depression
Loss of appetite
Change in taste
Blurred vision
Uses of Allopurinol
What is it prescribed for?
Gout
Allopurinol is used in the treatment of gout which is a type of arthritis that causes severe pain, redness, and tenderness in the joints.
Hyperuricemia Secondary to Chemotherapy
Allopurinol is used in lower the uric acid levels in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.
Calcium Oxalate Calculi with Hyperuricosuria
Allopurinol is used to lower the uric acid levels and prevents the formation of calculi in the kidney.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The effect of this medicine can be observed in 2 to 3 days.Duration of effect
The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 24 hours.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit forming tendencies were reported.Usage in pregnancy?
This medicine is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary. Consult your doctor about the potential benefits and risks before deciding to take this medicine.Usage while breast-feeding?
This medicine is known to excreted in breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Consult your doctor about the potential benefits and risks before deciding to take this medicine. Monitoring of allergic reactions like skin rash and blood cell count is necessary.
Allergy
Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Allopurinol.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
This medicine is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary. Consult your doctor about the potential benefits and risks before deciding to take this medicine.
Breast-feeding
This medicine is known to excreted in breast milk. It is not recommended in breastfeeding women unless necessary. Consult your doctor about the potential benefits and risks before deciding to take this medicine. Monitoring of allergic reactions like skin rash and blood cell count is necessary.
General warnings
Allergic reactions
This medicine should be discontinued immediately when allergy symptoms like skin rash, swelling of lips, and face appear.
Hydration
Drink adequate amount of water (2 liters/day) to increase the urine output and to prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Liver disease
This medicine is known to cause liver failure. Obtain baseline of liver function tests before initiation of the treatment. The treatment should be discontinued if any signs of any increase in the liver enzymes appear.
Asymptomatic hyperuricemia
This medicine is not recommended for use in the patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next scheduled dose then the missed dose should be skipped.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Azathioprine
Antacids
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI's)
Disease interactions
Bone marrow suppression
This medicine may decrease the blood cell production and increases the risk of infections and other serious condition. Frequent monitoring of blood cells level is necessary. Any signs of altered blood cell level should be reported to the doctor.
Impaired kidney function
This medicine should be used with caution in patients with existing kidney disease. The dose should be adjusted based on the CrCl.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Allopurinol as advised by the doctor. Do not take this medicine in larger quantities than recommended. Drink adequate amount of water to prevent the formation of kidney stones. The treatment should be started at lower doses and increase the dose gradually based on the response. It is advised not to operate machinery and drive vehicle due to the risk of dizziness.
Miscelleneous
How it works
It works by reducing the uric acid levels in the body.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antigout agents
Schedule
Schedule H
[Internet]. 2017 [cited 24 May 2017]. Available from:
Allopurinol: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 24 May 2017]. Available from:
DailyMed - Allopurinol tablet [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 24 May 2017]. Available from:
Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 24 May 2017]. Available from:
[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 24 May 2017]. Available from:
Information on this page was last updated on 5 Jan 2018
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.