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Allopurinol
Generic name: Allopurinol
Brand name: Aloprim
Description and use
Allopurinol is used in the treatment of chronic gout, a condition caused by too much uric acid in the blood. This medication is not a cure for gout, nor will it relieve an attack that has already started. It is a preventive and works by causing less uric acid to be product by the blood. It will not work right away, but rather after you have been taking it regularly for several months, and will continue to work as long as you continue with the drug therapy. During the first few months of use, it may increase the number of gout attacks, but other that, regular use will prevent attacks. Allopurinol is also used to prevent or treat other conditions that are also caused by excess uric acid in the blood such as certain kinds or kidney stones and other kidney problems.
How should this medicine be used?
Allopurinol comes in tablet form to be taken orally. The medication is taken once or twice a day, preferably after eating. In order to prevent the possibility of forgetting to take you medicine, take it at the same time every day.
Other uses for allopurinol
Allopurinol is sometimes used to treat seizures, pain from pancreatic disease, and some infections. Some other uses for this medicine include improving the survival rate after bypass surgery, reducing the relapses of ulcers, and preventing kidney transplant rejections.
Special precautions before starting this medication
· Advise your doctor or pharmacist of any medicine allergies
· Advise your doctor and pharmacist of all prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
· If you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease or heart failure, you need to let the doctor know
· If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are nursing, let your doctor know. Additionally, let your doctor know if you should become pregnant while taking this medication
· Allopurinol may make you drowsy. Until you know how you are going to react to it, do not drive or operate machinery while taking it
· Ask your doctor about the safety of consuming alcoholic beverages while taking this medication
Side effects
Along with the good that allopurinol, can do, there are some side effects as well. The more common ones are skin rash or sores, hives or itching. Other side effects that are rarer include black, tarry stools, sores that are bleeding on the lips, blood in urine or stools, chills, fever, muscle aches or pains, nausea or vomiting. This is especially important if skin rash, difficult or painful urination, pinpoint red spots, redness, tenderness, burning, or peeling skin, eyes that are red or irritated, scaly skin, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, chest tightness or wheezing, sores, ulcers or white spots that appear on lips or in the mouth, sore throat and fever, decrease in urine output, swelling in upper abdomen, swelling of face, fingers, feet or lower legs, swollen or painful glands, any unusual bleeding or bruising, excessive tiredness or weakness, rapid weight gain, or signs of jaundice.
Missed Dose
If you should forget to take a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if you remember when it’s close to time for the next dose, forget the missed dose and return to your regular medication schedule. Do not double the medication in order to catch up for missed doses.
Storage
Allopurinol should be stored away from heat and direct light in an area free from moisture - do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or any other place that might be susceptible to dampness or extreme heat. As with any medicine, keep this medicine out of the reach of children and discard any unused medicine when it is outdated or no longer needed.
Dosage
The prescribed dosage of allopurinol will be different for each patient, so you need to follow your doctor’s orders or the directions that appear on the label. This will be based on the patient’s medical history and the reason the medication is prescribed. Up to 300 mg at a time can be taken of this drug, and any dosage in excess of that should be broken into several smaller dosages spread throughout the day.
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