adverse symptoms should a patient who is taking allopurinol for gout report

by Letitia Hansen 7 min read

Allopurinol Side Effects: Common, Severe, Long Term

26 hours ago  · Side Effects. The very prevalent among the drug’s side effects are: A very severe skin rash. Symptoms may include scaly skin, itchy hives, red spots on your skin. Once you develop a skin rash, you need to alert your doctor but do not discontinue the administration. … >> Go To The Portal


Symptoms

  • Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
  • blindness
  • blue-yellow color blindness
  • blurred vision
  • body aches or pain
  • burning feeling in the chest or stomach
  • burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
  • burning, dry, or itching eyes
  • change in taste
  • change in vision

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Causes

Allopurinol oral tablet is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don't take it as prescribed. Symptoms can include: skin rash. diarrhea. nausea. changes in your liver function test results. gout flare-up (if you have gout)

Prevention

Tips

  • Allopurinol may be better tolerated if taken with food.
  • If you forget a dose of allopurinol, you do not need to double up the next dose. ...
  • Discontinue allopurinol at the first appearance of a skin rash, painful urination, blood in the urine, eye irritation, or facial swelling, and seek urgent medical advice.

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Complications

You take more allopurinol than your usual dose and you have any of these symptoms:

  • feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
  • diarrhoea
  • feeling dizzy or tired
  • headaches
  • stomach pain

Why can taking allopurinol cause gout?

What are the long term effects of allopurinol?

Should I avoid certain foods while taking allopurinol?

Should you stop taking allopurinol?

What should I report when taking allopurinol?

Call your doctor right away at the first appearance of a skin rash or allergic reaction (eg, trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of your hands, face, or mouth). Check with your doctor if you also develop blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, red skin lesions, severe acne, or sores or ulcers on the skin.

What are the adverse effects of allopurinol?

Allopurinol side effectsskin rash.diarrhea.nausea.changes in your liver function test results.gout flare-up (if you have gout)

What should I check before giving allopurinol?

Monitor signs of hypersensitivity reactions, including pulmonary symptoms (tightness in the throat and chest, wheezing, cough, dyspnea) or skin reactions (rash, pruritus, urticaria). Be especially alert for skin rash, and notify physician or nursing staff immediately of any signs of hypersensitivity.

Does gout medication have side effects?

Other side effects of NSAIDs include headaches, dizziness, rashes, aggravation of asthma, heart and kidney problems, and increased blood pressure.

Why allopurinol is contraindicated in acute gout?

Allopurinol should not be stopped during acute flares of gout. Stopping allopurinol during an acute flare means therapeutic effect is lost and the urate level will rise. In addition, there is a real risk of the allopurinol not being recommenced as well as precipitating another flare when it is recommenced.

Does allopurinol need monitoring?

Once allopurinol has been started, it is best to check urate levels and renal function every 2–4 weeks for the first 3 months. People with chronic renal impairment who also take allopurinol may be at increased risk of hypersensitivity reactions and other adverse reactions - see adverse reactions.

What lab value do you monitor with allopurinol?

Complete blood count, liver function tests, renal function, and serum uric acid levels shall be measured every 2 to 5 weeks while titrating the dose until achieving target serum uric acid level and every six months after that.

When should allopurinol be reduced?

Only stop taking allopurinol if a doctor tells you to. A doctor will help you to reduce your dose slowly so you do not get serious side effects. Are there any other medicines for gout? There are 2 types of medicine used for gout treatment – some stop the gout attack and some prevent further gout attacks.

Before Taking This Medicine

You should not take allopurinol if you are allergic to it.To make sure you can safely take allopurinol, tell your doctor if you have any of these o...

How Should I Take Allopurinol?

Take allopurinol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directio...

What Happens If I Miss A Dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to...

Allopurinol Dosing Information

Usual Allopurinol Adult Dose for Gout:Initial: 100 mg orally once a day.Maintenance: 200 to 300 mg (mild gout) orally once a day or 400 to 600 mg/d...

What Other Drugs Will Affect Allopurinol?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially: 1. azathioprine (Imuran); 2. chlorpropamide (Diabinese); 3. cyclosporine (Gengraf,...

What are the side effects of allopurinol?

Side effects of taking allopurinol can include: skin rashes. headaches. feeling drowsy or dizzy. feeling or being sick. changes to your sense of taste. If you develop a rash, you should stop taking your allopurinol and contact your doctor straight away. If you become dizzy or drowsy while taking allopurinol, ...

What is allopurinol used for?

What is allopurinol and how is it used? Allopurinol (al-oh-pure-ri-nol) is mainly used for the long-term treatment and prevention of gout. Taken regularly, it can stop attacks of gout and help prevent damage to your joints. It can also be used for treating kidney stones.

How long does it take for urate to go down?

You may need a lower dose if you have kidney or liver disease. It can take two to three months for your urate levels to reduce to a suitable level.

Can you stop taking allopurinol if you have gout?

If you do have an acute attack of gout while on allopurinol, don ’t stop taking it. If you’re unable to continue taking allopurinol because of your side effects, you may be able to take febuxostat instead, which works in a similar way to allopurinol.

Can you take allopurinol with water?

Allopurinol isn’t a treatment for acute attacks of gout. Allopurinol is taken as a tablet once a day. It’s usually better to take it just after eating. The tablet should be swallowed with water. It is important to drink plenty of water during the day. Your doctor will advise you about the correct dose.

Can you take febuxostat with allopurinol?

If you can’t take febuxostat, your doctor may suggest benzbromarone (bens-bro-ma-rone) or sulfinpyrazone (sul-fin-pira-zone). However, allopurinol should not be used to treat an acute attack of gout. This is because they may make the attack last longer.

Can you restart allopurinol?

Most people who take allopurinol don’t get any side effects. But if you do have side effects, it may be possible to restart allopurinol using a special ‘desensitisation’ course. This involves beginning allopurinol at a very low dose and increasing the dose gradually.

How gout develops

Gout develops as a result of a build-up of uric acid crystals around a joint. Uric acid is what is formed after the body breaks down protein substances known as purines. Purines are naturally found in the body, and they are also found in certain foods.

How does allopurinol work?

Allopurinol is an oral tablet whose brand names are Zyloprim and lopurin. It belongs to a drug category referred to as xanthine oxidase inhibitors. These are drugs that work similarly during treatment. It lowers serum uric acid levels in the bloodstream and the urine. It reduces the quantity of uric acid produced by the body cells.

Administration and dosage

Allopurinol for gout is strictly available on prescription, and administration is individualized for every patient. It comes as 100 and 300mg tablets. To attain complete gout control and reduce the serum uric acid to normal or close to normal depends on how severe a patient’s case is.

How to take allopurinol

Swallow the tablet (s) with water after eating. For most cases, allopurinol is taken once a day, but for those on high doses, the physician may advise that they split the amount. Dosage above 300 mg needs to be divided. The minimal effective allopurinol dosage for gout in a day is 100-300 mg, and the maximum dosage is 800mg.

Do the doses go lower or higher?

A patient will typically begin treatment on a low dose. Based on the uric acid levels results, it may be increased or reduced. To reduce the chances of developing a flare-up, the recommendation is that a patient starts with a low dose of 100mg per day. This is increased in weekly intervals until the desired levels of uric acid are attained.

Caution with other drugs

Within the first few months of the administration, you may suffer gout attacks or flare-ups as the drug starts to function. However, the doctor can prescribe NSAIDs or colchicine to help. It is always better to continue with anti-inflammatory agents until your uric acid levels stabilize and when there are no frequent attacks for several months.

Who can take allopurinol?

It is safe for adults and sometimes children to take allopurinol. However, it is not suitable for;

What are the side effects of allopurinol?

Common allopurinol side effects may include: 1 an increase in gout attacks when you first starting taking allopurinol oral; 2 rash; 3 drowsiness; 4 fever, chills; 5 abnormal liver function tests; 6 nausea, diarrhea; or 7 joint pain.

How to take allopurinol?

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Take allopurinol oral with a full glass of water.

What drugs interact with allopurinol?

an antibiotic such as ampicillin or amoxicillin; a blood thinner such as warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or. a diuretic or "water pill". This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with allopurinol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Does allopurinol lower blood cells?

Allopurinol can lower 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. Your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.

Does allopurinol help with gout?

Allopurinol reduces the production of uric acid in the body. Uric acid buildup can lead to gout or kidney stones. Allopurinol is used to treat gout or kidney stones. Allopurinol is also used to decrease levels of uric acid in people who are receiving cancer treatment.

How does allopurinol help with gout?

Allopurinol works by reducing the amount of uric acid made by body cells. In gout, this helps prevent uric acid crystals building up in the joints. This helps prevent joints becoming swollen and painful. In cancer, some cancer treatments kill cancer cells and uric acid is then released from these cells.

What is allopurinol used for?

1. About allopurinol. Allopurinol is a medicine used to lower levels of uric acid in your blood. If you produce too much uric acid or your kidneys do not filter enough out, it can build up and cause tiny, sharp crystals to form in and around your joints. Allopurinol is used to treat gout and kidney stones. It may also be prescribed ...

How long does it take for allopurinol to work?

Allopurinol reduces the amount of uric acid made by your body's cells. This reduces symptoms such as swollen and painful joints (gout). It may take several months before you feel the full benefit of allopurinol. During the first few months of treatment, as allopurinol starts to work, you may get more gout attacks.

Can you stop allopurinol for a few days?

It can also happen if allopurinol is stopped suddenly for a few days and then restarted at the same dose as before. It's better to reduce the dose and then increase it slowly. It's also best to not start taking allopurinol within 2 weeks of a viral infection, vaccination, or rash caused by something else.

Can you take allopurinol with cancer?

Allopurinol is used to treat gout and kidney stones. It may also be prescribed if you're having some types of cancer treatment. Some treatments can cause a build-up of uric acid. Allopurinol comes as 100mg and 300mg tablets and is only available on prescription.

Can you stop taking allopurinol?

If you stop allopurinol treatment suddenly, there is a high risk that gout may get worse or you will get serious side effects. Only stop taking allopurinol if a doctor tells you to. A doctor will help you to reduce your dose slowly so you do not get serious side effects.

Does allopurinol affect breast milk?

Allopurinol passes into breast milk in small amounts and has been linked with side effects in very few breastfed babies. If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, then talk to your health visitor or doctor.

Side effects of allopurinol

Allopurinol side effects are possible and may go away with continued use. Serious side effects are rare.

Costs of allopurinol

Without insurance, allopurinol is typically a low-cost drug (defined in this article as costing less than $30/month). You can check the out-of-pocket cash pay price for allopurinol on prescription drug discount websites.

How allopurinol may interact with other medicines

Allopurinol may interact with other prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements you may be taking. To help avoid harmful interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements you are taking.

For pregnant and breastfeeding women

It is not known if taking allopurinol during pregnancy will harm your unborn baby. If you plan on becoming pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider.

How and when to take allopurinol

Allopurinol is a medication taken by mouth after a meal. Your doctor will determine the amount you need to take. The medication dose may be low when you first start it. Your doctor may slowly increase the dose depending on how you do and how much you need.

If you miss a dose of allopurinol

Take a missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

If you take too much allopurinol

If you take too much allopurinol, you have a higher risk of having side effects caused by this drug. If you think you have taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

How do you know if you have gout?

Gout, a condition caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream, can cause sudden, intensely painful episodes called attacks, or flares. 1 Although attacks typically come on suddenly, the process that leads up to them can be very gradual. 2 When the uric acid level in the bloodstream remains high for an extended period (months, years—even decades), sharp, needle-like urate crystals have an opportunity to slowly grow around certain joints. 1,2 At some point (typically in the middle of the night), perhaps during a period of intense stress or after a steak dinner where you shared a bottle of wine, these crystals can trigger an excruciatingly painful gout flare. 1

Does colchicine help with gout?

3 Colchicine is one of the most frequently used drugs for preventing the inflammation associated with acute gout ...

Does colchicine cause nausea?

The most commonly reported adverse reactions with colchicine are gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Please see the full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for Mitigare® for complete product details.