This was prompted by the U. This study used a prophylactic dose of colchicine of 0. Even with the increased U. Healio News Rheumatology Gout. By Jason Laday. Perspective from David A. Source: Robinson PC, et al. Please see the study for all other authors' relevant financial disclosures. Read next. July 23, Receive an email when new articles are posted on.
Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on. Some drugs interact with allopurinol, so you should discuss any new medication with your doctor before starting it. Do not use complementary treatments , such as herbal remedies, without discussing this first with your doctor or pharmacist. Some of them could react with allopurinol. But remember you should only take one NSAID at a time — so do not take another if you have already been prescribed one to reduce the effects of gout attacks.
Allopurinol can also react with drugs that are often prescribed for high blood pressure, such as bendroflumethiazide, indapamide, lisinopril, ramipril.
Allopurinol reduces the breakdown of azathioprine, which is used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Your doctor may change your dose of azathioprine to account for this.
It can also reduce the breakdown of the leukaemia drug mercaptopurine, so the dose of mercaptopurine will need to be reduced if you take this drug. Allopurinol may also increase the risk of developing a rash if you take them with the antibiotics ampicillin or amoxicillin.
Allopurinol may also increase the effect of warfarin and other drugs that thin the blood. These are known as anticoagulants. If you need surgery , your doctor will discuss with you whether you should continue taking allopurinol. Allopurinol can be continued when you have surgery but, your doctor may recommend that you temporarily stop allopurinol and then restart it again days later at the same dose. If you still have urate crystals in your joints, an operation can trigger an acute attack, usually within the first few days of the surgery, while you are still in hospital.
Alcohol is not thought to affect allopurinol. However, alcohol increases the amount of urate in the blood, and excessive drinking can trigger an attack of gout. In some circumstances your doctor may advise lower limits.
You can find out more about units of alcohol at www. Allopurinol is unlikely to affect your fertility. Download allopurinol information booklet.
Print this page. What is allopurinol? If this happens to you, it does not mean that the allopurinol is not working. Related information. Who can take allopurinol? You will usually be offered allopurinol if blood tests show that your urate level is high enough for urate crystals to form, especially if one or more of the following applies: you are having frequent attacks of gout.
UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking allopurinol. There are no foods or drink you need to avoid.
However, drinking alcohol can trigger an attack of gout. Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking allopurinol.
But drinking alcohol increases the level of uric acid in your blood and can trigger an attack of gout. If you feel OK, you can drink alcohol in moderation. Following the national guidelines on alcohol for men and women of drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. Making lifestyle changes might mean you can stop or reduce further attacks of gout.
Page last reviewed: 21 November Next review due: 21 November Allopurinol On this page About allopurinol Key facts Who can and cannot take allopurinol How and when to take it Side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions. About allopurinol Allopurinol is a medicine used to lower levels of uric acid in your blood. Allopurinol is also known by the brand names Zyloric and Uricto. 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. However, your doctor will prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs or colchicine to help with this.
When allopurinol is taken regularly, it can lower the number of gout attacks and help prevent damage to the joints.
Usually you will start allopurinol after an acute attack of gout has completely settled. Allopurinol can be taken by adults and sometimes children. Allopurinol is not suitable for certain people. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if you: have ever had an allergic reaction to allopurinol or any other medicine are of Han Chinese, Thai or Korean origin have problems with your liver or kidneys currently have an attack of gout have thyroid problems.
How to take it Swallow the allopurinol tablets with water, ideally after food. Will my dose go up or down? Your doctor will usually start you on a low dose of allopurinol. What if I forget to take it?
If you take allopurinol: once a day — take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the missed dose. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Contact for advice now if:. 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 Go to Common side effects The most common side effects are feeling or being sick.
Serious side effects Skin rashes If you notice a skin rash or redness, tell a doctor straight away, as this can develop into a life-threatening skin condition called Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Other serious side effects It's unusual to have serious side effects after taking allopurinol. Tell a doctor straight away if you: get yellow skin or the whites of your eyes go yellow — these can be signs of a liver problem get a high temperature, sore throat and swollen glands or feel generally unwell — this could mean there are problems with your white blood cells have bruising for no obvious reason or bleeding gums which takes a long time to stop when brushing your teeth are unusually thirsty, going to the toilet to pee a lot, unusually tired, losing weight without trying, blurred vision — these could be signs of diabetes Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to allopurinol.
Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. Allopurinol and breastfeeding If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, allopurinol can be taken while you're breastfeeding.
Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Tell a doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any of these medicines before you start taking allopurinol: aspirin or medicines used to thin your blood anticoagulants , such as warfarin any antibiotics medicines used to reduce your immune response for arthritis or after you've had an organ transplant tablets that make you pee more diuretics such as furosemide or ACE inhibitors to treat high blood pressure hypertension such as enalapril and ramipril If you take aluminium hydroxide found in some antacids such as Maalox and Mucogel , leave a 3 hour gap between the aluminium hydroxide and your allopurinol dose.
Taking allopurinol with painkillers You can take allopurinol with paracetamol and anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen , naproxen , or indomethacin. Mixing allopurinol with herbal remedies and supplements There's very little information about taking herbal medicines and supplements with allopurinol.
Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does allopurinol work? Allopurinol works by reducing the amount of uric acid made by body cells.
How long does it take to work? How long will I take it for? Is it safe to take for a long time? What will happen if I stop taking it? Are there any other medicines for gout?
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