Allopurinol
About
Allopurinol belongs to a class of medication called 'enzyme inhibitor', primarily used to decrease blood uric acid levels in the body. It is used to treat Gout (increased uric acid leading to inflammation), kidney stones, bladder stones. Gout is a type of inflammatory reaction (allergic reaction) to uric acid crystals that form and accumulate inside joints, especially big toe, due to high uric acid levels in the blood resulting in immense pain in joints.
Allopurinol contains allopurinol, which works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the formation of uric acid. It stops uric acid formation inside the body without affecting the essential mechanism of cells and the body.
Take Allopurinol as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Allopurinol for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending upon your medical condition. The most common side effects of Allopurinol are upset stomach, diarrhoea, skin rash, drowsiness. Most of these side effects of Allopurinol are temporary, do not require medical attention, and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Do not take Allopurinol if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Allopurinol contains monohydrated lactose, if you are intolerant to some sugars, call your doctor before taking this drug. If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, are breast-feeding ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. Drink at least 2-3 litres of water so that you stay hydrated. For people who have kidney disease or renal dysfunction, dose adjustment is required. If you lose unexplained weight, please visit your doctor immediately.
Uses of Allopurinol
Medicinal Benefits
Allopurinol contains an 'enzyme inhibitor', medication, primarily used to decrease blood uric acid levels in the body. In addition to this, it is sometimes also used to treat pain caused by pancreas disease, seizures, and improve survival after bypass surgery. It also prevents the rejection of a kidney transplant. Allopurinol contains allopurinol, an enzyme inhibitor primarily used to decrease blood uric acid levels in the body. It works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the formation of uric acid. It stops uric acid formation inside the body without affecting the essential mechanism of cells and the body.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Allopurinol
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Skin rash
- Drowsiness
- Feeling or being sick
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not take Allopurinol if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Allopurinol contains monohydrated lactose; if your doctor mentioned that you are intolerant to some sugars, call your doctor before taking this drug. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine, you have heart problems or high blood pressure and you take diuretics and/or a medicine called ACE-inhibitors, you have thyroid problems. In rare cases, Allopurinol can cause bone marrow depression, especially in patients who are already taking that can cause bone marrow depression. For people who have kidney disease or renal dysfunction, dose adjustment is required. If you lose unexplained weight, please visit your doctor immediately. Allopurinol can cause drowsiness so do not operate machinery or car as it can impair judgment.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Allopurinol is known to interact with a blood thinner (aspirin), antihypertensive medicines (captopril), anti-bacterial medicines (ampicillin and amoxicillin), medicines used to thin the blood (dicoumarol, phenprocoumon, warfarin), anti-diabetic medicines (chlorpropamide, tolbutamide), anti-epilepsy medicines (phenytoin, carbamazepine), medicines used for chemotherapy (azathioprine, mercaptopurine, cyclophosphamide), immune suppressant medicine (cyclosporine), asthma medicines (theophylline).
Drug-Food Interaction: Allopurinol is known to interact with alcohol.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Allopurinol is known to interact in kidney or liver problems, hypertension (high blood pressure), heart problem, thyroid problems, chemotherapy.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAllopurinol should not be taken along with alcohol as it increases uric acid levels.
Pregnancy
cautionAllopurinol is a Category C pregnancy drug. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAllopurinol is excreted in human breast milk, so it is not recommended during breastfeeding.
Driving
unsafeAllopurinol may make some people feel drowsy or sleepy. Do not drive or operate dangerous machinery if you are affected.
Liver
cautionAllopurinol to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionAllopurinol to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
unsafeAllopurinol hasn’t been studied and shouldn’t be used in people younger than 18 years to treat gout or kidney stones.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Purines are found in certain foods such as alcohol, fish, meat, bacon. People with gout should restrict or avoid them greatly.
- Losing weight helps lower the levels of uric acid.
- It is also beneficial to drink plenty of fluids. However, the restricted use of alcohol and tobacco is recommended, raising the levels of uric acid.
- Maintain a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
Special Advise
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water or other fluids each day while taking Allopurinol unless directed to do otherwise by your doctor. If you are a kidney patient consult a doctor before any fluid intake.
- If you are intolerant to sugars, please mention your doctor before starting Allopurinol.
- The doctor will monitor your kidney function constantly before and during you take Allopurinol.
- A liver function test should be done regularly to monitor liver enzymes as Allopurinol can cause liver enzyme fluctuations.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Gout: It is a type of inflammatory (allergic reaction) to uric acid crystals that form and accumulate inside feet, knuckles, and surrounding bone joints due to high uric acid levels in the blood, resulting in immense pain in joints. The pain may be severe, but the condition improves with medication. To avoid bone and cartilage damage and weakening of the kidneys, repeated gout attacks can require long-term medication. In areas such as the wrists, elbows, feet, or earlobes, chronic gout sufferers can feel small hard lumps forming over time in the soft flesh. These deposits are concentrations of uric acid crystals, called tophi, and over time can cause pain and stiffness.
Kidney stones: It is a problem in which hard deposits occur in the kidney leading to stones. A kidney stone comprises mainly four types of calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite and cystine. It is due to the increased level of uric acid in the body. As a result, uric acid crystals start depositing in the kidney, known as renal calculi/nephrolithiasis/urolithiasis.
FAQs
Allopurinol contains allopurinol, an enzyme inhibitor that works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for uric acid formation. It stops uric acid formation inside the body without affecting the essential mechanism of cells and the body.
If you are taking Allopurinol and it makes you vomit, then your contraceptive pill would not be effective, and it could lead to unwanted pregnancy. If you are of childbearing age, inform your doctor before starting Allopurinol and use another form of contraceptive like condoms.
Initially, when you start Allopurinol, it can increase the number of gout attacks. Please do not stop taking Allopurinol on having an acute attack (sudden attack) of gout as it can make the attack even worse. Co-administration with an anti-inflammatory agent (colchicine) is recommended and slowly increasing the dose of Allopurinol.
Generally, when Allopurinol is given to elderly patients (above 65 years), the dose is lowered depending upon the patient's condition. Also, if mention all underlining disease you suffer from which could affect Allopurinol, the dose will be adjusted accordingly by your doctor
Yes, Allopurinol can cause drowsiness in some people. It can even make you feel dizzy or have a problem with coordination. It is advisable to avoid driving or operate machinery to avoid any unpleasant side effects.
No, Allopurinol is not an anti-inflammatory medicine. It works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the formation of uric acid. It stops uric acid formation inside the body without affecting the essential mechanism of cells and the body.
It may take several weeks to lower the uric acid levels, before you start feeling better or notice any significant reduction in attacks of gout.
