Allopurinol tablets

What is this medicine?

ALLOPURINOL (al oh PURE i nole) reduces the amount of uric acid the body makes. It is used to treat the symptoms of gout. It is also used to treat or prevent high uric acid levels that occur as a result of certain types of chemotherapy. This medicine may also help patients who frequently have kidney stones.

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. If this medicine upsets your stomach, take it with food or milk. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 6 years for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing problems

• joint pain

• muscle pain

• rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes

• redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• signs and symptoms of infection like fever or chills; cough; sore throat

• signs and symptoms of kidney injury like trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine, flank pain

• tingling, numbness in the hands or feet

• unusual bleeding or bruising

• unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• changes in taste

• diarrhea

• drowsiness

• headache

• nausea, vomiting

• stomach upset

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with the following medication:

• didanosine, ddI

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• certain antibiotics like amoxicillin, ampicillin

• certain medicines for cancer

• certain medicines for immunosuppression like azathioprine, cyclosporine, mercaptopurine

• chlorpropamide

• probenecid

• thiazide diuretics, like hydrochlorothiazide

• sulfinpyrazone

• warfarin

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees C (59 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light and moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• an unusual or allergic reaction to allopurinol, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor or healthcare provider for regular checks on your progress. If you are taking this medicine to treat gout, you may not have less frequent attacks at first. Keep taking your medicine regularly and the attacks should get better within 2 to 6 weeks. Drink plenty of water (10 to 12 full glasses a day) while you are taking this medicine. This will help to reduce stomach upset and reduce the risk of getting gout or kidney stones.

Call your doctor or healthcare provider at once if you get a skin rash together with chills, fever, sore throat, or nausea and vomiting, if you have blood in your urine, or difficulty passing urine.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the medicine. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. Or, you might notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.

Do not take vitamin C without asking your doctor or healthcare provider. Too much vitamin C can increase the chance of getting kidney stones.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this drug affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol can make you more drowsy and dizzy. Alcohol can also increase the chance of stomach problems and increase the amount of uric acid in your blood. Avoid alcoholic drinks.