Allopurinol

Uses of Allopurinol

Allopurinol is commonly used to treat gout, which is a form of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in your blood and joints.

Allopurinol may also be used to lower your uric acid levels if you are receiving chemotherapy for cancer, or if you have certain types of kidney stones.

Allopurinol may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

Precautions and Warnings

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use allopurinol.

• Allopurinol
• Lopurin
• Zyloprim
• Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific allopurinol products they stock.

Do not take allopurinol unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.

Do not share allopurinol with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep allopurinol out of the reach of children.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are of African, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Ancestry.  If you are of one of these ancestries, your healthcare provider may wish to perform genetic testing to determine your risk of a specific allergic reaction to allopurinol.

Allopurinol may interact with other medicines and supplements. Before taking allopurinol, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

It is not known if or how allopurinol could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take allopurinol while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Do not take allopurinol while you are breastfeeding and for one week after your last dose. Allopurinol passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Dosage

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):

For gout:

• Adults—At first, 100 to 300 milligrams (mg) per day, taken once a day or in divided doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 800 mg per day.
• Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For high uric acid levels caused by cancer medicines:

• Adults and children 11 years of age and older—300 to 800 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
• Children—Dose is based on body surface area (BSA) and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 100 milligrams per square meter (mg/m[2]) every 8 to 12 hours. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 800 mg per day.

For kidney stones:

• Adults—200 to 300 milligrams (mg) per day, taken once a day or in divided doses. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 800 mg per day.
• Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Side Effects

Common side effects

• Skin rash (see below)
• Diarrhea
• Nausea