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What is the most important information I should know about
allopurinol?
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To reduce the risk that kidney stones will form, drink 8 to 10 full
glasses (8-ounce glasses) of fluid every day, unless your doctor directs
otherwise. |
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Avoid alcohol. It may worsen your condition. |
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Allopurinol may cause drowsiness. If you
experience drowsiness, avoid these activities. |
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Allopurinol reduces the production of uric acid in your body. |
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Allopurinol is used to treat gout, increased levels of uric acid
caused by cancer treatment, and kidney stones that are caused by high
levels of uric acid. |
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Allopurinol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
allopurinol?
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Before taking allopurinol, tell your doctor if you have kidney or
liver disease. You may need a lower dose of allopurinol or special
monitoring during your therapy. |
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Allopurinol is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it
is not known whether allopurinol will harm an unborn baby. Do not take
allopurinol without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. |
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Allopurinol passes into breast milk. Do not take allopurinol without
first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take allopurinol?
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Take allopurinol exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass of water. Also, to reduce the risk
that kidney stones will form, drink 8 to 10 full glasses (8-ounce
glasses) of fluid every day, unless your doctor directs otherwise. |
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Take allopurinol with food or milk to lessen stomach upset. |
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Store allopurinol at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only
your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this
medication. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention. |
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Symptoms of an allopurinol overdose are not known. |
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What should I avoid while taking allopurinol?
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Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other
hazardous activities. Allopurinol may cause drowsiness. If you
experience drowsiness, avoid these activities. |
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Avoid alcohol. It may worsen your condition. |
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Follow your doctor's recommendations about diet. |
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What are the possible side effects of allopurinol?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking allopurinol and seek emergency medical attention: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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blood in your urine or pain when you urinate; |
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fever, chills, or joint aches; or |
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severe nausea or vomiting. |
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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take allopurinol and talk to your doctor if you experience |
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upset stomach or diarrhea; |
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headache, dizziness, or drowsiness; or |
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an acute attack of gouty arthritis. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any reaction that seems unusual or that is especially
bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect allopurinol?
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Taking ampicillin (Principen, Omnipen, others) or amoxicillin (Amoxil,
Augmentin, Trimox, Wymox, others) may increase the risk that a rash will
develop during allopurinol therapy. Tell your doctor that you are taking
allopurinol if you need to take ampicillin or amoxicillin. |
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Thiazide diuretics (water pills) may increase the amount of
allopurinol in your blood. Tell your doctor if you are taking a diuretic
such as |
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hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, Hygroton, HCTZ, others), |
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chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), |
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chlorthalidone (Thalitone, others), or |
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Allopurinol may also increase the effects of the certain other drugs.
Before taking allopurinol, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the
following medicines: |
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mercaptopurine (Purinethol), |
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drugs used to treat cancer, |
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cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), |
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chlorpropamide (Diabinese), |
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warfarin (Coumadin), or |
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theophylline (Theochron, Theolair, Theo-Dur, others). |
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You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring if you are
taking any of the drugs listed above. |
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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with
allopurinol. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any
prescription or over-the-counter medicines. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has more information about allopurinol written for
health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.07. Revision date: 7/
14/ 04. |
