Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Allopurinol

Allopurinol: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What is Allopurinol?

Allopurinol is a medicine used to treat gout or kidney stones. It belongs to the xanthine oxidase inhibitor class of drugs that reduce the uric acid levels in your body. Allopurinol also reduces the elevated serum and blood uric acid levels caused by chemotherapy medications. Doctors prescribe 200 to 300 mg for mild gout and 400 to 600 mg for moderate gout per day. However, dosage requirements of more than 300 mg per day should be divided into smaller ones, administered after meals.

What Are the Uses of Allopurinol?

  • It is indicated for reducing uric acid formation in gouty arthritis and nephrolithiasis.
  • It is given for diseases such as uric acid lithiasis and uric acid nephropathy that cause an increase in levels of uric acid.
  • It is indicated for the management of recurrent calcium calculi.
  • It is used in patients whose serum or urine uric acid levels are elevated due to cancer medications.
  • Allopurinol is useful in the treatment of seizures and certain infections.
  • It is effective in reducing ulcer relapses.
  • The medicine helps prevent the rejection of kidney transplants.

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    What Are the Side Effects of Allopurinol?

    Most of the side effects of Allopurinol are self-limiting. However, you should stop taking it and immediately contact your doctor if you experience any severe allergic reaction. Further, you should take precautions to always use Allopurinol as prescribed by a health professional.

    Common Side Effects

    • Nausea
    • Diarrhea
    • Stomach upset
    • Drowsiness

    Serious Side Effects

    • Blood in the urine
    • Eye irritation
    • Skin rash
    • Yellowing of skin or eyes
    • Tingling and numbness of legs or arms
    • Painful urination
    • Loss of appetite
    • Weight loss
    • Vision impairment

    What is Allopurinol

    Uses of Allopurinol

    Side effects of Allopurinol

    References

    1. Evaluation of effect of allopurinol and febuxostat in behavioral model of depression in mice
    2. Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut-Brain Axis
    3. Effect of Allopurinol on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis
    4. Hyperuricemia and incident hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    5. Allopurinol Initiation and Change in Blood Pressure in Older Adults With Hypertension | Hypertension
    6. Extended report: Weight loss for overweight and obese individuals with gout: a systematic review of longitudinal studies
    7. Allopurinol for chronic gout.
    8. Therapeutic effects of xanthine oxidase inhibitors: renaissance half a century after the discovery of allopurinol
    9. ALLOPURINOL
    10. ZYLOPRIM ® (allopurinol)
    11. DailyMed – ALLOPURINOL tablet ALLOPURINOL tablet

    Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Allopurinol

    Initially, when the Allopurinol treatment begins, you may experience more gout attacks. During this time, your body removes extra uric acid. Your doctor usually prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or colchicine to treat gout attacks, along with Allopurinol. However, regular use of Allopurinol may reduce the number of gout attacks and prevent damage to the joints.

    Gout is a disease caused by excessive production of uric acid in your body, which subsequently results in its deposition in body tissues, especially in the joints and kidneys. Allopurinol works by inhibiting the xanthine oxidase enzyme, an enzyme responsible for the production of uric acid in your body. As a result, uric acid levels decrease in blood and urine after regular use of Allopurinol.

    No, Allopurinol does not cause depression. Instead, it has antidepressant properties. Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that may increase the levels of serotonin in your body. Lower levels of serotonin can cause depression. Further, the serotonin hormone plays a critical role in your feelings of well-being and happiness and helps stabilize your mood.

    Yes, you can take Allopurinol and colchicine together. Allopurinol is used for the treatment of gout. However, during the first few months of the therapy, it may increase the number of gout attacks. Therefore, your doctor may prescribe colchicine to prevent gout flare-ups and NSAIDs along with Allopurinol to relieve pain.

    Allopurinol causes weight loss rather than weight gain. Further, patients who take this medicine tend to report nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Stomach upset, diarrhea, and skin rashes are the other possible side effects of Allopurinol. You can reach out to our experts for advice on the use of Allopurinol and other drugs for treating gout.

    Allopurinol is available in tablet form in the market, manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies under various brand names. It is available in dosages of 100 mg and 300 mg in oral tablets. Various dosages of the pills can be identified by their shape, color, and imprint. However, this medicine should be taken as prescribed by your doctor.

    Allopurinol is prescribed for the treatment of gout and kidney stones. It lowers the levels of uric acid in serum and urine. Some cancer medications also increase the levels of uric acid in your body. Thus, Allopurinol is also prescribed with cancer medications to help reduce uric acid levels in the body.

    You should take Allopurinol under the guidance of your doctor. Treatment with Allopurinol is started in low doses (100 mg for adults) once daily. However, your doctor may gradually increase it. If it is more than 300 mg, your doctor may tell you to take it in two or three divisions after meals.

    No, Allopurinol is effective in reducing high blood pressure. High uric acid levels are associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). Allopurinol causes a mild but significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic pressure. Further, you can get expert recommendations on the use of Allopurinol from our medical consultants.

    Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor indicated for treating gout, a painful inflammatory disease of joints characterized by increased uric acid levels. Allopurinol reduces uric acid levels in the blood, and it is not a pain killer or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs). It is prescribed along with NSAIDs to relieve pain associated with gout.

    Our medical experts at Yashoda Hospitals can answer all your concerns. Get a medical opinion by reaching out to us today!
    S.no Product Name Dosage Form
    1. Zyloric Allopurinol 100mg/300mg Tablet
    2. Zyrik Allopurinol 100mg/300mg Tablet
    3. Allopurizol Allopurinol 300mg Tablet
    4. Uricheck Allopurinol 100mg Tablet
    5. Mecnol Allopurinol 300mg Tablet