Allopurinol
Drug name: Allopurinol
Other names used:
- Allohexal®®
- Allosig®®
- Aloprim®®
- Progout®®
- Zyloprim®
- Zyloprim®®
- Zyloric®®
Therapeutic actions: This medication is used to treat chronic gout and to lower blood uric acid levels. Allopurinol blocks the body's production of uric acid. Allopurinol should not be used to treat acute gout attacks.
Indications: Allopurinol is used to treat patients with multiple recurrent gout attacks, erosive destructive gouty joint disease, hard lumps of uric acid deposits in tissues (called tophi), gouty kidney disease, or uric acid stones. Allopurinol is also used to prevent elevation of blood uric acid in patients undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of certain cancers.
Contraindications and cautions: Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to any medications, especially to Allopurinol.
Tell your doctor if you now have or ever had blood disorders, kidney disease, or liver disease. Also tell your doctor if you have a relative with idiopathic hemochromatosis (a disorder of iron metabolism).
Allopurinol may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Do not take part in any activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating potentially dangerous equipment. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although Allopurinol appears to be safe in animals, studies in pregnant women have not been conducted. Also be sure to tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant. Although the medication passes into breast milk, no problems have been observed in nursing infants. Still, if Allopurinol has been prescribed for you, it is best to inform your physician that you are nursing an infant.
Adverse effects: The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Minor: Diarrhea, drowsiness, nausea, stomach upset, or vomiting. These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to Allopurinol. Major: Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or particularly bothersome that may be the result of Allopurinol. It is ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about blurred vision, chills, difficult or painful urination, fatigue, fever, loss of hair, muscle aches, numbness or tingling sensations, paleness, rash, sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, or yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
Interactions: Tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine.
Allopurinol interacts with several other types of drugs: alcohol, diuretics (water pills), and pyrazinamide can increase blood uric acid levels, thus decreasing the effectiveness of Allopurinol. Allopurinol can increase the body's store of iron salts, which can lead to iron toxicity. When combined with Allopurinol, ampicillin can increase the chance of skin rash; thiazide diuretics and captopril can increase the chance of allergic reactions; and cyclophosphamide can increase the chance of blood disorders. Allopurinol can also increase the blood levels, therapeutic effects, and toxicity of mercaptopurine, azathioprine, oral anticoagulants (blood thinners), and theophylline.
vitamin C can make the urine acidic, which can increase the risk of kidney stone formation in people who are taking allopurinol.
Before starting to take Allopurinol, BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently taking, especially any of those listed above.
Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.
