Febuxostat

Description

Febuxostat is a medicine used to treat Gout (a condition that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals). It works by reducing the production of uric acid in the body, thus preventing the accumulation of urate crystals in your joints. Febuxostat may cause side effects like headache, nausea, diarrhoea, rashes, abnormal liver function, etc. It may also worsen your symptoms of gout like pain and swelling in the joints, in the initial months of the treatment. Most of these side effects will resolve with time as your body gets used to the medication. However, consult your doctor if they persist or worsen. Febuxostat may be taken with or without food as instructed by your doctor. Take it at the same time daily for the ease of remembering. Avoid taking more or less than the recommended dose. Febuxostat is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Consult your doctor if you have heart, liver, or kidney problems before starting treatment with this medicine. Inform your doctor about all your current medications to avoid any undesired effects. Febuxostat is not recommended for use in children younger than 18 years of age. It should be used in pregnancy and while breastfeeding only upon your doctor's recommendation.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Febuxostat

  • Headache
  • Skin rashes
  • Diarrhoea
  • Gout flares
  • Nausea
  • Abnormal liver function
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle pain
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Dizziness
  • Increased thirst
  • Blurred vision

Uses of Febuxostat

What is it prescribed for?

  • Gout
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The time taken for Febuxostat to show its effect is not clinically known.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of Febuxostat 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 for Febuxostat.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    Febuxostat is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    Febuxostat is not recommended for use while breastfeeding unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Allergic reaction

Febuxostat is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of your face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

Febuxostat is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.

Breast-feeding

Febuxostat is not recommended for use while breastfeeding unless necessary. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings

Gout flare

Febuxostat may cause an increase in gout attacks (intense joint pain that comes on suddenly) during the first few months after initiation of the treatment due to changes in the serum uric acid levels. Your doctor may recommend additional treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines or Colchicine during the first six months to treat the symptoms caused by gout attacks. Do not discontinue the treatment without consulting your doctor.

Use in children

Febuxostat is not recommended for use in children younger than 18 years of age due to lack of sufficient safety and efficacy data.

Thyroid disorders

Prolonged use of Febuxostat may cause an increase in thyroid hormone levels in your body. Hence, it should be used with caution if you have abnormal thyroid levels.

Driving vehicles or operating machines

Febuxostat may cause dizziness and drowsiness in some cases. Avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines till you understand how this medication affects you.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose of Febuxostat as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.

Overdose

Never take more than the prescribed dose of Febuxostat. Contact your doctor in case of an overdose of this medicine.
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

Mercaptopurine

Theophylline

Remdesivir

Disease interactions

Secondary Hyperuricaemia

Febuxostat is not recommended for use if you have high uric acid levels in the body due to various conditions such as cancer, tumor lysis syndrome (a condition that occurs when a large number of cancer cells die within a short period, releasing their contents into the blood), or Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (a genetic disorder). There is a lack of sufficient safety and efficacy data for the use of this medicine in such conditions.

Cardiovascular disease

Febuxostat should be used with caution if you have problems related to the heart and blood vessels, as it may further worsen your condition.

Kidney dysfunction

Febuxostat should be used with caution if you have severe kidney problems as it may lead to the accumulation of this medicine in the body. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your kidney function and recommend appropriate dose adjustments based on your clinical condition.

Liver dysfunction

Febuxostat should be used with caution if you have severe liver problems as it may lead to the accumulation of this medicine in the body. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your kidney function and recommend appropriate dose adjustments based on your clinical condition.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Febuxostat with or without food, as prescribed by your doctor. Do not break, chew or crush the tablet in your mouth. Do not take Febuxostat in larger or smaller amounts than prescribed. Take this medicine for the recommended duration for better results. Consult your doctor if you experience any undesirable effects that persist or worsen. You may experience increased frequencies of gout flare-ups during the initial months of starting the treatment. Do not discontinue Febuxostat for this reason without consulting your doctor. Your doctor may recommend additional treatment to prevent gout attacks. Febuxostat may cause dizziness and drowsiness in some cases. Avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines until you understand how this medication affects you. Make healthy lifestyle changes to prevent further gout flare-ups and get maximum benefits from the treatment. Limit the consumption of alcohol and beverages sweetened with fructose (fruit sugars). Avoid eating foods like red meat, lamb, pork, and seafood (like anchovies, sardines, mussels, scallops, trout, and tuna). Lose weight and exercise regularly to relieve the pressure on your joints.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
Febuxostat works by inhibiting the production of uric acid in the body.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

Antihyperuricemic agents, Antigout agents

Schedule

Schedule H

Medlineplus.gov. 2019. Febuxostat: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 December 2021].

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a609020.html>

CiplaMed. 2018. FEBUCIP Tablets. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 December 2021].

https://www.ciplamed.com/content/febucip-tablets>

Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2019. DailyMed - FEBUXOSTAT tablet, film coated. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 December 2021].

https://www.dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=3f5600cd-1f2f-410a-8c55-b8363d4fc492&audience=consumer>

Accessdata.fda.gov. 2017. ULORIC (febuxostat) tablet for oral use. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 December 2021].

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021856s011lbl.pdf>

Medicines.org.uk. 2020. Febuxostat Accord 80mg Film-Coated Tablets - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 December 2021].

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/10184/smpc#gref>

Mayoclinic.org. 2021. Febuxostat (Oral Route) Description and Brand Names - Mayo Clinic. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 7 December 2021].

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/febuxostat-oral-route/description/drg-20074780>

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Information on this page was last updated on 1 Feb 2022

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.