ALLOPURINOL

Brand & Generic Names

Alloprin
Apo-Allopurinol
Lopurin
Novopural
Purinol
Zyloprim

Basic Information

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

Uses

• Treatment for chronic gout.
• Prevention of kidney stones caused by uric acid.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation.

When to take:
At the same times each day.

If you forget a dose:
1 dose per day--Take as soon as you remember up to 6 hours late. If more than 6 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).
More than 1 dose per day--Take as soon as you remember up to 3 hours late. If more than 3 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Slows formation of uric acid by inhibiting enzyme (xanthine oxidase) activity.

Time lapse before drug works:
Reduces blood uric acid in 1 to 3 weeks. May require 6 months to prevent acute gout attacks.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
None expected.

WHAT TO DO:

Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center or hospital emergency room for instructions.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

None expected.

Common:

Rash, hives, itch.

Infrequent:

• Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes).
• Drowsiness, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting without oother symptoms, headache.

Rare:

• Sore throat, fever, unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Numbness, tingling, pain in hands or feet.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to allopurinol.

Before you start, consult your doctor:
If you have had liver or kidney problems.

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:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:
Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check liver function, kidney function, complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), and serum uric-acid determinations.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Avoid if you feel drowsy. Use may disqualify you for piloting aircraft.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Others:
Acute gout attacks may increase during first weeks of use. If so, consult doctor about additional medicine.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Ampicillin	Likely skin rash.
Anticoagulants,	May increase
oral*	anticoagulant effect.
Antidiabetics,	Increased uric-acid
oral*	elimination.
Azathioprine	Greatly increased azathioprine
	effect.
Chlorpropamide	May increase chlorpropamide effect.
Chlorthalidone	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Cyclophosphamide	Increased cyclophosphamide
	toxicity.
Diuretics*, loop or	Decreased allopurinol
thiazide	effect.
Ethacrynic acid	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Furosemide	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Indapamide	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Iron supplements*	Excessive accumulation of iron in
	tissues.
Mercaptopurine	Increased mercaptopurine effect.
Metolazone	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Probenecid	Increased allopurinol effect.
Theophylline	May increase theophylline effect.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	None expected, but may impair
	management of gout.
Beverages:	Caffeine drinks.
	Decreased allopurinol effect.
Cocaine:	Decreased allopurinol effect.
	Avoid.
Foods:	None expected. Low-purine diet*
	recommended.
Marijuana:	Occasional use--None expected.
	Daily use--Possible increase in
	uric-acid level.
Tobacco:	None expected.