Allopurinol

Brand Names

Zyloprim, Lopurin, Aloprim

What is Allopurinol

Allopurinol belongs to a class of medications called xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Allopurinol is used to treat gout, high levels of uric acid in the body that caused by certain cancer medications and kidney stones. It works by reducing the production of uric acid in the body. High levels of uric acid may cause gout attacks or kidney stones. This drug is used to prevent gout attacks, not to treat them once they occur.

Side effects of Allopurinol

The common side effects, you may notice:

• upset stomach
• diarrhea
• drowsiness

If you have noticed any of these serious side effects, contact your doctor as soon as possible:

• skin rash
• painful urination
• blood in the urine
• irritation of the eyes
• swelling of the lips or mouth
• fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
• loss of appetite
• unexpected weight loss
• itching

Indication

Allopurinol is used to treat and prevent gout attacks and certain types of kidney stones. Allopurinol is also known as Zyloprim, It is also used to treat elevated uric acid levels in the blood and urine, which can occur in patients receiving chemotherapy for the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and other types of cancer. If left untreated, high uric acid levels in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy can cause kidney stones and kidney failure.

Allopurinol comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It should be taken once or twice a day, preferably after a meal. Follow the instruction of your prescription label carefully and take allopurinol exactly as directed. You should not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Precautions

Allopurinol should be used with caution by the followings:

• People who are taking other medications for high blood pressure such as diuretics (water pills) or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (captopril, lisinopril, enalapril). These people may be at higher risk of hypersensitivity with allopurinol.
• People who have had an allergic reaction to allopurinol in the past.
• Pregnant women should be avoided on taking this drug because its effects on the human fetus are unknown.
• Breastfeeding mothers.
• Children (except those who have high uric acid levels caused by cancer, chemotherapy, or genetic diseases).
• People with kidney problems may need to use lower doses of allopurinol.
• Before starting therapy patients who are taking allopurinol need to see a doctor and occasionally during therapy to do blood tests for monitoring of kidney and liver function and complete blood count.

Dosage forms

GOUT.

200-300 mg per day for mild gout and 400-600 mg per day for severe gout. Patients greater than 65 years of age should be started at 100 mg per day. Their dose can be increased until desired uric acid levels in the blood are reached.

PREVENTION OF URIC ACID KIDNEY STONES IN CANCER PATIENTS.

600-800 mg per day divided into several doses, usually starting 1-2 days before cancer chemotherapy and stopped two to three days after the chemotherapy is completed for that cycle.

Total daily dose greater than 300 mg should be given in divided doses.

You should take Allopurinol after meals to avoid stomach upset. Patients should drink plenty of fluids (at least eight glasses of water per day) while taking this medicine unless otherwise directed by a doctor. Drinking a lot of water can prevent formation of kidney stones.