Allopurinol instructions

Brand Name: Zyloprim

Generic Name: Allopurinol

The following product information is not a substitute for physician's or manufacturer's instructions.

Allopurinol Medical Uses:
Allopurinol is used to treat chronic gout. This medicine works by causing less uric acid to be produced by the body. Allopurinol will not relieve a gout attack that has already started. This drug does not cure gout, but it will help prevent gout attacks. However, it works only after you have been taking it regularly for a few months. Allopurinol will help prevent gout attacks only as long as you continue to take it. 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.

How to Take Allopurinol:
Take allopurinol exactly as directed by your health care professional. Take each dose with a full glass of water. Also, to reduce the risk that kidney stones will form, drink 8 to 10 full glasses (8-ounce glasses) of fluid every day, unless your doctor directs otherwise. Take allopurinol with food or milk to lessen stomach upset. It may take several months or longer before you feel the full benefit of allopurinol. Allopurinol may increase the number of gout attacks during the first few months that you take it, although it will eventually prevent attacks. Your doctor may prescribe another medication such as colchicine to prevent gout attacks for the first few months you take allopurinol. Do not stop taking allopurinol without talking to your doctor.

Allopurinol Possible Side Effects:
Like all medicines, Allopurinol may cause unwanted effects (side effects) in some people.

Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• an acute attack of gouty arthritisupset stomach
• diarrhea
• drowsiness

The following effects are rare, but you should contact your doctor immediately if any of them happen to you:

• skin rash
• blood in your urine
• pain when you urinate
• eye irritation
• swelling of the lips or mouth fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
• loss of appetite
• itching

You should also tell your doctor if you experience any unwanted effects which are not mentioned above.

Allopurinol Precautions:
Before taking Allopurinol, tell your doctor or pharmacist:

• if you are allergic to allopurinol or any other medications
• what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking
• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking allopurinol, call your doctor. Allopurinol is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether this medication will harm an unborn baby.

Allopurinol may cause drowsiness. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. If you experience drowsiness, avoid these activities. Avoid alcohol. It may worsen your condition.

Drug Interactions:

Allopurinol may interact with the following drugs:

• ampicillin (e.g. Principen, Omnipen)
• amoxicillin (e.g. Amoxil, Augmentin, Trimox)
• hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, Hygroton, HCTZ)
• chlorothiazide (Diuril)
• chlorthalidone (Thalitone, others)
• indapamide (Lozol)
• mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• azathioprine (Imuran)
• chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• tolbutamide (Orinase)
• theophylline (Theochron, Theolair, Theo-Dur)

Missed Dose:
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Related information:
Buy Allopurinol without prescription