PROBENECID

Brand & Generic Names

Benemid
Benuryl
Probalan

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Antigout

Uses

• Treatment for chronic gout.
• Increases blood levels of penicillins and cephalosporins.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same time each day.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 12 hours late. If more than 12 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Forces kidneys to excrete uric acid.
Reduces amount of penicillin excreted in urine.

Time lapse before drug works:
May require several months of regular use to prevent acute gout.

Don't take with:
Non-prescription drugs containing aspirin or caffeine.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Breathing difficulty, severe nervous agitation, vomiting, seizures, convulsions, delirium, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

Headache, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting.

Infrequent:

• Blood in urine, low back pain, worsening gout.
• Dizziness, flushed face, itchy skin.
• Painful or frequent urination, sore gums.

Rare:

Sore throat, fever and chills; difficult breathing; unusual bleeding or bruising; red, painful joint; jaundice; foot, leg or face swelling.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any uricosuric*.
• You have acute gout.
• Patient is younger than 2.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had kidney stones or kidney disease.
• If you have a peptic ulcer.
• If you have bone marrow or blood cell disease.
• If you are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Studies inconclusive on harm to unborn child. Animal studies show fetal abnormalities. Decide with your doctor whether drug benefits justify risk to unborn child.

Breast-feeding:
No proven problems. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• Possible kidney damage.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check serum uric acid, urine uric acid.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Avoid if you feel dizzy. Otherwise, no problems expected.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:
If signs of gout attack develop while taking medicine, consult doctor.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Allopurinol	Increased effect of each drug.
Anticoagulants*,	Increased anticoagulant effect.
Aspirin	Decreased probenecid effect.
Bismuth	Decreased effect of
subsalicylate	probenecid.
Cefixime	Increased cefixime effect.
Cephalosporins*	Increased cephalosporin effect.
Ciprofloxacin	May cause kidney dysfunction.
Dapsone	Increased dapsone effect. Increased
	toxicity.
Diclofenac	Increased diclofenac effect.
Diuretics, thiazide*	Decreased probenecid effect.
Hypoglycemics*,	Increased hypoglycemic effect.
Indomethacin	Increased adverse effects of
	indomethacin.
Ketoprofen	Increased risk of ketoprofen toxicity.
Loracarbef	Increased loracarbef effect.
Methotrexate	Increased methotrexate toxicity.
Nitrofurantoin	Increased effect of nitrofurantoin.
Non-steroidal anti-	Increased toxic risk.
Para-aminosalicylic	Increased effect of para-
acid	aminosalicylic acid.
Penicillins*	Enhanced penicillin effect.
Pyrazinamide	Decreased probenecid effect.
Salicylates*	Decreased probenecid effect.
Sodium benzoate	May reduce effect of sodium
& sodium phenylacetate	benzoate & sodium phenylacetate.
Sulfa drugs*	Slows elimination. May cause
	harmful accumulation of sulfa.
Thioguanine	More likelihood of toxicity of
	both drugs.
Zidovudine	Increased zidovudine toxicity risk.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Decreased probenecid effect.
Caffeine drinks.	Loss of probenecid effectiveness.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Daily use--Decreased probenecid
	effect.
Tobacco:	None expected.