Allopurinol reduces the production of uric acid in your body. Uric acid buildup can lead
to gout or kidney stones.
Allopurinol is used to treat gout or kidney stones, and to decrease levels of uric acid in
people who are receiving cancer treatment.
Allopurinol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking allopurinol?
Do not use this medication if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to
allopurinol.
Before taking allopurinol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you
have:
kidney disease;
liver disease;
diabetes;
congestive heart failure;
high blood pressure; or
if you are receiving any chemotherapy.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take allopurinol.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Allopurinol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this
medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take allopurinol?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from
this medication.
Take each dose with a full glass of water. To reduce your risk of kidney stones
forming, drink 8 to 10 full glasses of fluid every day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Allopurinol can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make
it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be
sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis.
Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled
appointments.
Store allopurinol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of allopurinol?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose,
skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time.
Do
not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about allopurinol?
Your pharmacist has information about allopurinol written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of allopurinol?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using allopurinol and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects:
the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
pain or bleeding when you urinate;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering,
peeling, and red skin rash;
bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
dizziness or drowsiness;
increased sweating; or
joint pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about allopurinol?
Do not use this medication if you have ever had a serious allergic reaction to
allopurinol.
Stop taking the medicine and call your doctor at once if you have any
signs of skin rash, no matter how mild.
Take each dose with a full glass of water. To reduce your risk of kidney stones
forming, drink 8 to 10 full glasses of fluid every day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Allopurinol can lower the blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make
it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be
sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do
not miss any scheduled appointments.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can make your condition worse.
Allopurinol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What should I avoid while taking allopurinol?
Avoid being near people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. Contact
your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
Allopurinol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be
careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It may worsen your condition.
Your doctor may recommend a special diet to help treat your condition. Follow your diet
and medication routines very closely.
What other drugs will affect allopurinol?
Before taking allopurinol, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
azathioprine (Imuran);
chlorpropamide (Diabinese);
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);
mercaptopurine (Purinethol);
an antibiotic such as ampicillin (Principen, Omnipen,
others) or amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin, Trimox, Wymox);
a blood thinner such as dicoumarol or warfarin
(Coumadin); or
a diuretic (water pill).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with allopurinol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other
doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of allopurinol?
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate,
up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist
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a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any
given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009