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Overview	Photos	How To Use	Side Effects	Precautions	Missed Dose	Drug Interactions

Allopurinol Uses Allopurinol is an enzyme blocker that lowers high levels of uric acid in your body by decreasing the amount produced. It is used to treat gout and certain types of kidney stones. This drug is also used to prevent high uric acid levels in patients who receive cancer chemotherapy. Cancer cells that are destroyed with therapy release large amounts of uric acid into the bloodstream. Notes Do not share this medication with others.Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., uric acid blood levels, liver and kidney function tests in certain patients, complete blood count) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.If you are taking allopurinol to treat kidney stones, you may benefit from a special diet. Consult your doctor for more details. Storage Store the US product at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom.Store the Canadian product at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.Keep all medicines away from children and pets. How To Use Take this medication by mouth usually once daily after a meal to reduce stomach upset, or as directed by your doctor. It is best to drink a full glass of water with each dose and at least another 8 glasses (8 oz. each) a day while taking this drug in order to prevent kidney stones from forming. If you are on restricted fluid intake, consult your doctor for further instructions. Your doctor may also instruct you on how to decrease acidity in your urine (e.g., avoid large amounts of ascorbic acid or Vitamin C).Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. Remember to take it at the same time each day.For the treatment of gout, it may take up to several weeks for this medicine to have an effect. You may experience an increase in the number of gouty attacks for several weeks to months after starting this medicine while the body rids itself of excess uric acid. Allopurinol is not a pain reliever. To relieve pain, continue to take your prescribed medicines for gouty attacks (e.g., colchicine, ibuprofen, indomethacin) as directed by your doctor. Side Effects Stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, unusual taste, acute gouty attacks, or drowsiness may occur as your body adjusts to this medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but very serious side effects occur: easy bleeding/bruising, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), change in the amount of urine, yellowing eyes or skin, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting/lack of appetite, dark urine, unusual tiredness, unusual weight loss.This drug may rarely cause very serious (possibly fatal) allergic reactions. Stop taking allopurinol and seek immediate medical attention if any of these allergic reaction symptoms occur: skin rash, hives, itching, swelling (especially of the lips or mouth), dizziness, pain when urinating, blood in the urine, unusual eye redness/pain, fever and chills, muscle/joint pain, trouble breathing.If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Precautions Before taking allopurinol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, unusual diets (e.g., starvation diets).This drug may make you drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery.Alcohol may decrease the effectiveness of this drug. Limit alcoholic beverages.This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.Allopurinol passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. Missed Dose If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up. Drug Interactions Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.This drug should not be used with the following medication because very serious interactions may occur: didanosine.If you are currently using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting allopurinol.Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: certain antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin), certain asthma drugs (aminophylline, theophylline), azathioprine, "blood thinners" (e.g., warfarin), chlorpropamide, cyclosporine, mercaptopurine, sulfinpyrazone, "water pills" (e.g., thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide). Share and Enjoy!

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User Medicine Opinions for Allopurinol

Overall: Low adverse Reactions Healing Power: No dependency problems: Cost-Benefit: Sex: M Age: 80 Time Taken: 10 years Reason: GOUT Date: 27 April 2007 Side Effects I HAVE HAD NO SIDE EFFECTS WHATSOEVER. I HAVE NOT HAD A GOUT ATTACK SINCE I STARTED THIS MEDICATION Additional Thoughts MY URIC ACID LEVEL WAS 8.8 [ BORDERLINE FOR GOUT ATTACKS ]. IF I ATE "WRONG FOODS- HIGH PURINES", MY URIC ACID LEVEL JUMPED, CAUSING A GOUT ATTACK. MY RHEUMATOLOGIST PRESCRIBED 150MG ALLOPURINOL DAILY, WHICH HAS MAINTAINED MY URIC ACID LEVEL AT 5.0. SINCE I BEGAN, MY FOOD RESTRICTIONS HAVE DISAPPEARED, AND I EAT WHATEVER I WISH. Overall: Low adverse Reactions Healing Power: No dependency problems: Cost-Benefit: Sex: M Age: 53 Time Taken: 8 years Reason: Kidney Stones Date: 29 April 2007 Side Effects Low energy, depression and joint pain. Additional Thoughts It has reduced my visits to the hospital for Kidney Stones from 4-6/year to 1 every year or two. My low energy has me looking at a correlation with taking the drug. I've asked my GP & Arthritis Specialist but they didn't think so. That said I think they have not done their homework. Overall: Low adverse Reactions Healing Power: No dependency problems: Cost-Benefit: Sex: M Age: 34 Time Taken: 45 days Reason: Gout Date: 23 May 2007 Side Effects Tiredness, Sore eyes, Heartburn and joint pain - mainly lower back. Additional Thoughts On 500mg a day - seems quite high. Doctor says go back after 6months on 500mg for a Uric Acid test. Think I'll go back sooner though as the tiredness is doing me in. Overall: Low adverse Reactions Healing Power: No dependency problems: Cost-Benefit: Sex: M Age: 53 Time Taken: 1 days Reason: Gout Date: 27 May 2007 Side Effects Severe backache, headache, fever & chills. Skin & eye redness. Shortness of breath. Additional Thoughts Required hospital treatment for side effects, was told it was a severe allergic reaction & never to take it again. Overall: Low adverse Reactions Healing Power: No dependency problems: Cost-Benefit: Sex: F Age: 66 Time Taken: 3 days Reason: Severe and frequent gout attacks Date: 3 July 2007 Side Effects Have taken Allopurinol since 2004. For the past few months have suffered very dry and painful red eyes with cataracts forming in both eyes, causing vision loss in left eye. Have sleep disturbances, frequent virus infections and feel tired all the time - but gout under control! Additional Thoughts No more excruciatingly painful gout attacks but now have blurred vision and can't find my "get up and go."

CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgement of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.