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.
Does allopurinol have any side effects?
Stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.
Who should not take allopurinol?
Who should not take Allopurinol?
- dehydration.
- anemia.
- decreased blood platelets.
- low levels of white blood cells.
- abnormal liver function tests.
- chronic kidney disease stage 4 (severe)
- chronic kidney disease stage 5 (failure)
- kidney disease with likely reduction in kidney function.
How long should you take allopurinol?
Adults and children 11 years of age and older—600 to 800 milligrams (mg) per day, taken in divided doses for 2 to 3 days. Children 6 to 10 years of age—300 mg per day, taken once a day for 2 to 3 days. Children younger than 6 years of age—150 mg per day, taken once a day for 2 to 3 days.
What is a allopurinol used for? – Related Questions
Why do I still get gout while taking allopurinol?
Sometimes starting allopurinol can trigger a gout attack. This is because some of the crystals can dislodge into the joint as they get smaller which can cause an attack. You may be given another medicine to reduce the risk of these attacks.
Is allopurinol toxic to kidneys?
Allopurinol does not appear to be associated with kidney function decline, and clinicians should consider other potential contributors when faced with kidney function decline in patients with gout.
Is allopurinol a long term medication?
Two long-term medications for gout are allopurinol and febuxostat. This is the most commonly used drug. It is usually taken once a day, and works by lowering the amount of uric acid produced by the body.
How long does it take for allopurinol to lower uric acid levels?
Allopurinol may be taken once daily. Normal serum uric acid levels are normally achieved within one to three weeks. It may take two to six weeks before allopurinol effectively reduces gout attacks. It is not unusual to experience a gout attack in the first few weeks of allopurinol initiation.
What are the serious side effects of stopping allopurinol?
It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed. If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: The uric acid levels in your blood or urine will stay high. If you have gout or kidney stones, you’ll still have symptoms of your condition.
Is allopurinol hard on the liver?
Allopurinol (Zyloprim), often used to prevent painful gout attacks, can cause liver injury within days to weeks of the start of treatment. If you are prescribed this drug, your doctor may also recommend that you get regular lab tests to monitor the health of your liver.
Will allopurinol raise blood pressure?
Allopurinol is associated with a small but significant reduction in BP. This effect can be potentially exploited to aid in controlling BP in hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia.
Is it better to take allopurinol at night?
Allopurinol is effective to reduce the uric acid concentration in hyperuricemia disease, and night administration is better than morning in uric acid reduction (-2.450 ± 3.7591 vs -0.980 ± 1.4873).
Can allopurinol cause weight gain?
Can allopurinol cause weight gain? Weight loss is more likely with allopurinol than weight gain. With allopurinol, patients experience weight loss, nausea, and a loss of appetite. Acute gout attacks, diarrhea, nausea, and skin rash are all possible side effects of allopurinol.
Does allopurinol thin hair?
Gout medications like allopurinol (Zyloprim and Lopurin) have been reported to cause hair loss.
Does allopurinol give you energy?
Second, in terms of ATP utilization, allopurinol acutely results in favorable energetic changes that include a reduction in cytosolic free [ADP] and an increase in the amount of energy released with each ATP molecule hydrolyzed (ΔG~ATP).
What should you monitor when taking 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 the target serum uric acid level and every six months thereafter.
Why allopurinol is given once daily?
Allopurinol as a single dose in the morning gave as sustained control of plasma levels as did divided administration.
Does allopurinol change your mood?
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that allopurinol and febuxostat possess significant antidepressant like activity.
Can allopurinol affect your eyes?
The National Registry of Drug Induced Ocular Side Effects in the US published 30 case histories of cataract suspected to be induced by allopurinol; numerous additional cases have been reported to the registry since.
Does allopurinol affect appetite?
Loss of appetite and unexpected weight loss may occur while taking allopurinol. This is considered a serious side effect. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice these changes.
Does allopurinol cause memory loss?
Amnesia, agitation, and insomnia were reported in less than 1% of patients.
