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:
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kidney disease;
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liver disease;
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diabetes;
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congestive heart failure;
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high blood pressure; or
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if you are receiving any chemotherapy.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use allopurinol, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
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.
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. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, 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 visits to your doctor.
Store allopurinol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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.
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:
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the first sign of any skin rash, no matter how mild;
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pain or bleeding when you urinate;
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urinating less than usual or not at all;
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fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
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bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
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easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
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fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
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jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
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seizure (convulsions).
Keep taking allopurinol and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
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nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
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dizziness or drowsiness;
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increased sweating; or
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joint pain.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any reaction that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
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 visits to your doctor.
To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, 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 visits to your doctor.
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.
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.
Before taking allopurinol, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
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azathioprine (Imuran);
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chlorpropamide (Diabinese);
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cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);
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mercaptopurine (Purinethol);
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an antibiotic such as ampicillin (Principen, Omnipen, others) or amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin, Trimox, Wymox);
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a blood thinner such as dicoumarol or warfarin (Coumadin); or
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a diuretic (water pill) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), and others.
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use allopurinol, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect 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.
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
An overdose of allopurinol is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.