ALLOPURINOL DRUG INFO
HOW TO USE: Take allopurinol tablets
by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label.
Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. If allopurinol
upsets your stomach, take it with food or milk. Take your
doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more
often than directed.
SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects to allopurinol are rare
but some can be serious. Side effects that you should report
to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as
possible: any type of skin rash or itching; any signs of an
allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing, wheezing,
swelling or irritation of the eyes, or swelling of the lips
and mouth; blood in urine; muscle aches or pains; pain or
difficulty passing urine, reduced amount of urine; redness,
blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside
the mouth; sore throat, fever, or chills.
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention
(report to your prescriber or health care professional if
they continue or are bothersome): diarrhea; headache; indigestion;
loss of appetite; nausea, vomiting; nose bleeds; stomach pain
or cramps.
PRECAUTIONS: Visit your prescriber or health care
professional for regular checks on your progress. If you are
taking allopurinol 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
allopurinol. This will help to reduce stomach upset and reduce
the risk of getting gout or kidney stones.
Call your prescriber or health care professional 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; irritation of the eyes; or swelling
of the lips and mouth.
Alcohol can increase the chance of stomach problems and increase
the amount of uric acid in your blood. Avoid alcohol.
Do not take vitamin C without asking your prescriber or health
care professional. Too much vitamin C can increase the chance
of getting kidney stones.
You may get drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything
that needs mental alertness until you know how allopurinol
affects you.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Aluminum hydroxide; amoxicillin
or ampicillin; azathioprine; certain medicines used to treat
gout; certain types of water pills (diuretics); chlorpropamide;
cyclosporine; mercaptopurine; theophylline; warfarin.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all
other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription
medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also
tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are
a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you
smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way
your medicine works. Check with your health care professional
before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
NOTES: Prescriber needs 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.
MISSED 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.
STORAGE: Keep out of the reach of children in a container
that small children cannot open. Store at room temperature
between 15 and 25 degrees C (59 and 77 degrees F). Protect
from moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration
date.
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