Febuxostat
About
Febuxostat belongs to a class of anti-gout medications, also known as xanthine oxidase inhibitors, widely used to prevent severe gout attacks or flares. Gout is a chronic condition that occurs due to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints. It is characterized by intense pain and swelling at the affected joints. Febuxostat prevents the sudden attacks of pain caused by severe gout and decreases pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Febuxostat contains febuxostat. It works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase (an enzyme that helps your body make uric acid), thereby reducing the level of uric acid in your body. Thus, it reduces the inflammation caused by uric acid crystals in affected joints, thereby reducing pain, swelling and inflammation. Febuxostat is used to prevent gout attacks or flares.
Your doctor will advise you on how often you take off the Febuxostat based on your medical condition. The common side effects of Febuxostat nausea, rash, dizziness, diarrhoea, pain, rash, inaccurate liver function test results, gout flare-ups (intense joint pain that comes on suddenly, often in the middle of the night), localized swelling due to retention of fluids in tissues (oedema). Most of these side effects of Febuxostat do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Do not stop taking a Febuxostat of your own. Stopping it may worsen your condition and increase the risk of increased uric acid levels and future gout attacks. Inform your doctor if you have allergic to Febuxostat or any other medicines, have a heart problem (Febuxostat may cause heart problems that can lead to heart attack), or have kidney/liver disease. Some people experience more gout flare-ups when you start taking Febuxostat. You should continue taking this drug even if gout flare-ups occur. Your doctor may give you combination therapy to prevent flare-ups when you start Febuxostat. The safety and effectiveness of children under 18 years of age have not been established, so Febuxostat should not be given to them. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Febuxostat.
Uses of Febuxostat
Medicinal Benefits
Febuxostat is a class of medications called xanthine oxidase (enzyme that helps your body to make the uric acid) inhibitors. It works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, thereby reducing the level of uric acid that is made in your body. Thus, it reduces the inflammation caused by uric acid crystals in affected joints, thereby reducing pain, swelling and inflammation. Febuxostat is used to prevent gout attacks or flares.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Febuxostat
- Nausea
- Rash
- Dizziness
- Diarrhoea
- Joint pain
- Rash,
- Inaccurate liver function test results
- Gout flare-ups (intense joint pain that comes on suddenly, often in the middle of the night)
- Localized swelling due to retention of fluids in tissues (oedema)
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
You should avoid taking Febuxostat if you are allergic to Febuxostat, or have heart-related problems, as it increases the risk of a heart attack. It should be used cautiously in patients with kidney problems and blood disorders. Caution is required before taking Febuxostat if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or already a breastfeeding mother. The safety and effectiveness of children under 18 years of age have not been established, so Febuxostat should not be given to them.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Febuxostat interacts with anticancer medications (mercaptopurine, methotrexate), immunosuppressant medications (azathioprine), antidiabetic medications (rosiglitazone), and antiasthma medications (theophylline).
Drug-Food Interactions: Intake of alcohol may increase the risk of side effects, so avoid taking alcohol with Febuxostat. Limit the purine-rich diet.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Brief your doctor if you have a medical history of allergic reactions to medicines, hyperuricemia (an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood), heart diseases, liver or kidney diseases before taking Febuxostat.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionYou should avoid taking alcohol while taking Febuxostat because alcohol may affect Febuxostat effectiveness.
Pregnancy
cautionFebuxostat should not be taken until prescribed. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere is limited data on how Febuxostat affects breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor before starting Febuxostat.
Driving
cautionDo not drive or operate machinery if you experience sleepiness, blurred vision and numbness or tingling sensation while using Febuxostat. Seek medical attention if the symptoms persist longer.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver disease or hepatic impairment. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing Febuxostat.
Kidney
cautionFebuxostat should be used with caution in patients with renal impairment. The doctor may adjust the dose depending on your condition.
Children
cautionFebuxostat is not recommended for children below the age of 18 years. The safety and efficacy of Febuxostat have not been established in children due to limited testing of this drug on children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Include more glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, vitamin D, and calcium-enriched supplements. Besides this, turmeric and fish can help in reducing inflammation in the tissue.
- Please do not go for heavy exercise as it may increase your joint pain in arthritis. Instead, you can do low-impact aerobic movements like walking on a treadmill and swimming. You can also strengthen your muscles by lifting light weights.
- Your sitting posture is important, especially when you have pain and inflammation. Try to sit as little as possible and only for a short duration of time. Long-term immobility is harmful in conditions like arthritis. Use back support like a rolled-up towel to minimise pain at the back of your spine curve. Keep your knees and hips at a right angle. Besides this, you can also use a footrest if required.
- Avoid a high purine-rich diet, including organ meats (kidneys, liver, and sweetbreads) and oily fish (sardines, anchovies, and herring).
- Limit meat in favour of plant-based proteins like beans and legumes.
- Eat complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain bread, fruits, and vegetables, rather than sugary sweets and refined carbohydrates like white bread.
- Avoid drinking beer and alcoholic beverages and drink plenty of water or other nonalcoholic beverages.
Special Advise
- Please consult your doctor and check your levels of uric acid two weeks after starting Febuxostat. Your goal is a uric acid level in your blood that is less than 6 mg/dL.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Gout: Gout is a type of arthritis called 'gouty arthritis'. It is caused by a build-up of a naturally occurring chemical (uric acid) in your body (hyperuricemia). The excess uric acid deposit and crystallize in the joints leading to pain and inflammation. The general signs and symptoms of gout include sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints, mostly in the joint at the base of the big toe. Patients with gout may often experience acute attacks that result in sudden and severe pain, often waking you up in the middle of the night with the sensation that your big toe is on fire.
FAQs
Febuxostat is a class of antigout drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors. It works by decreasing a high amount of uric acid to the normal level that is made in the body. Febuxostat is used to prevent gout attacks but not to treat them once they occur.
No, Do not discontinue Febuxostat without consulting your doctor. To treat your condition effectively, continue taking Febuxostat for as long as prescribed. If you stop taking Febuxostat, your uric acid levels will likely remain high and continue to cause gout symptoms.
Febuxostat is not recommended if you have heart disease; taking Febuxostat may cause serious heart problems, which can be life-threatening in some cases. So, please consult your doctor before taking the Febuxostat.
Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience dizziness or drowsiness while using Febuxostat.
The dose and duration of Febuxostat depend upon your medical condition. It may take several months before Febuxostat begins to prevent gout attacks. Do not stop taking Febuxostat without the advice of your doctor even if you feel better.
It is best taken in the morning. You can take Febuxostat with or without food. Keep taking Febuxostat every day, to prevent gout attacks.
