Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsUseSide EffectsInteractionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Use
Side Effects
Interactions
Frequently Asked Questions
Allopurinoltreatsgout,hyperuricemia(the buildup of uric acid in the body), andkidney stones. It is part of a class of drugs calledxanthine oxidaseinhibitors and is available in the United States under the brand names Zyloprim and Lopurin.
This article covers how allopurinol treats gout, its side effects, and possible drug interactions.
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Using Allopurinol for Gout
Allopurinol is a long-term, preventive treatment for gout. It is regularly prescribed to stop gout attacks and prevent joint damage.
Gout commonly occurs because of high uric acid levels in the blood. Typically, the body rids itself of uric acid through urine. But if too much uric acid is produced, the body cannot get rid of it properly, andurate crystalswill start forming around the joints.
This uric acid buildup can occur over many years without a person ever knowing it.Once crystals have formed, they make their way into thesynovial lining(joint lining), causing inflammation and pain. ,
For uric acid levels to remain normal, you must keep taking allopurinol. But because it takes many months or even years for this to happen, you might still have gout attacks. The longer you have had high uric acid levels, the longer it will be before you stop experiencing gout attacks and for your uric acid levels to become normal.
A healthcare provider will likely prescribe allopurinol as soon as you are diagnosed with gout to prevent future gout attacks and joint damage. They might also prescribe allopurinol if your blood work shows high uric acid levels (even if you have not yet experienced gout attacks) or if your skin shows firm, white lumps calledtophi.
Allopurinol is an oral pill and is taken once or twice daily.You should take it with a meal and at the same time every day. Take allopurinol exactly as prescribed. Do not miss doses or take more or less than prescribed.
Allopurinol Side Effects
You likely will not experience any severe side effects with allopurinol, and mild side effects will resolve once your body gets used to the drug.
Common side effects of allopurinol include:
You should immediately reach out to your healthcare provider if you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms while on allopurinol.You should also speak to your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms or side effects that cause you concern.
Allopurinol can sometimes trigger a gout attack at the start of treatment.This reaction might occur because the crystals find their way into the synovial linings of joints due to their smaller size.
Your healthcare provider might prescribe another medication, such as Colcrys (colchicine), an anti-inflammatory drug that reduces gout swelling and pain.Colchicine is recommended in the first few months of using allopurinol.
Allopurinol Interactions
A drug interaction might change how a medication works or increase the risk for serious side effects. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if you experience a drug interaction, it would fall under three categories.
These categories are:
Some medications can interact with allopurinol and increase the potential for side effects. According to the FDA’s package insert for Zyloprim (allopurinol), medicines that might interact with allopurinol include:
There are no specific foods or drinks that you need to avoid with allopurinol. However, consider your alcohol intake because alcohol is a gout attack trigger.
Some people shouldn’t take allopurinol. This includes people with kidney problems or a history ofkidney disease, pregnant people, those who are breastfeeding, and children and youth under age 18.
To avoid drug interactions, keep a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you use and share it with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without first talking with your healthcare provider.
Summary
Allopurinol is a drug that reduces uric acid production in the body. Your healthcare provider might prescribe allopurinol to prevent future gout attacks and joint damage. It is given as an oral pill and taken once or twice a day.
The research on allopurinol shows it to be well-tolerated, and adverse and severe reactions are rare. Even so, you should let your healthcare provider or pharmacist know about all the medications you take, including vitamins and supplements. Never make changes to your treatment plan without first talking to your healthcare provider.
A Word From Verywell
Gout is a treatable and manageable condition. Medications like allopurinol can improve your outlook and quality of life.
Work with a healthcare provider to find additional ways to lower your uric acid levels, improve joint function, and prevent tophi. They can recommend lifestyle and diet changes to help ease your symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of gout attacks.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt might take a month or two to experience the effects of allopurinol, and it is possible to have gout attacks during this time. Your healthcare provider can prescribe an anti-inflammatory treatment like colchicine to prevent these attacks. Do not stop taking allopurinol without talking to your healthcare provider.Common side effects of allopurinol include rash, headache, upset stomach, dizziness, and drowsiness. You should immediately reach out to a healthcare provider if you develop a rash, flu-like symptoms, or any side effects that cause you concern.Weight loss is more common with allopurinol than weight gain. You should reach out to a healthcare provider if you experience any unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
It might take a month or two to experience the effects of allopurinol, and it is possible to have gout attacks during this time. Your healthcare provider can prescribe an anti-inflammatory treatment like colchicine to prevent these attacks. Do not stop taking allopurinol without talking to your healthcare provider.
Common side effects of allopurinol include rash, headache, upset stomach, dizziness, and drowsiness. You should immediately reach out to a healthcare provider if you develop a rash, flu-like symptoms, or any side effects that cause you concern.
Weight loss is more common with allopurinol than weight gain. You should reach out to a healthcare provider if you experience any unexplained weight loss or weight gain.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Allopurinol.Harvard Health Publishing.All about gout.Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.Verma S, Bhargav P, Toprani T, Shah V.Multiarticular tophaceous gout with severe joint destruction: a pictorial overview with a twist.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(6):609-11. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.143538Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.Latest guidance on the management of gout.BMJ. 2018;362:k2893. doi:10.1136/bmj.k2893Stamp LK, Barclay ML.How to prevent allopurinol hypersensitivity reactions?Rheumatology(Oxford). 2018 Jan 1;57(suppl_1):i35-i41. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kex422Radak-Perović M, Zlatković-Svenda M.The efficacy and tolerability of allopurinol dose escalation in patients with gout.Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2013;141(5-6):333-6. doi:10.2298/sarh1306333rFeng X, Li Y, Gao W.Prophylaxis on gout flares after the initiation of urate-lowering therapy: a retrospective research.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(11):21460-21465. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keu157Food and Drug Administration.Drug interactions: What you should know.Casper Pharma.ZYLOPRIM ® (allopurinol).Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, et al.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: an internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Allopurinol.Harvard Health Publishing.All about gout.Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.Verma S, Bhargav P, Toprani T, Shah V.Multiarticular tophaceous gout with severe joint destruction: a pictorial overview with a twist.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(6):609-11. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.143538Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.Latest guidance on the management of gout.BMJ. 2018;362:k2893. doi:10.1136/bmj.k2893Stamp LK, Barclay ML.How to prevent allopurinol hypersensitivity reactions?Rheumatology(Oxford). 2018 Jan 1;57(suppl_1):i35-i41. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kex422Radak-Perović M, Zlatković-Svenda M.The efficacy and tolerability of allopurinol dose escalation in patients with gout.Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2013;141(5-6):333-6. doi:10.2298/sarh1306333rFeng X, Li Y, Gao W.Prophylaxis on gout flares after the initiation of urate-lowering therapy: a retrospective research.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(11):21460-21465. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keu157Food and Drug Administration.Drug interactions: What you should know.Casper Pharma.ZYLOPRIM ® (allopurinol).Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, et al.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: an internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Allopurinol.Harvard Health Publishing.All about gout.Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.Verma S, Bhargav P, Toprani T, Shah V.Multiarticular tophaceous gout with severe joint destruction: a pictorial overview with a twist.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(6):609-11. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.143538Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.Latest guidance on the management of gout.BMJ. 2018;362:k2893. doi:10.1136/bmj.k2893Stamp LK, Barclay ML.How to prevent allopurinol hypersensitivity reactions?Rheumatology(Oxford). 2018 Jan 1;57(suppl_1):i35-i41. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kex422Radak-Perović M, Zlatković-Svenda M.The efficacy and tolerability of allopurinol dose escalation in patients with gout.Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2013;141(5-6):333-6. doi:10.2298/sarh1306333rFeng X, Li Y, Gao W.Prophylaxis on gout flares after the initiation of urate-lowering therapy: a retrospective research.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(11):21460-21465. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keu157Food and Drug Administration.Drug interactions: What you should know.Casper Pharma.ZYLOPRIM ® (allopurinol).Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, et al.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: an internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019
MedlinePlus.Allopurinol.
Harvard Health Publishing.All about gout.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Gout risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
Verma S, Bhargav P, Toprani T, Shah V.Multiarticular tophaceous gout with severe joint destruction: a pictorial overview with a twist.Indian J Dermatol. 2014;59(6):609-11. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.143538
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.Latest guidance on the management of gout.BMJ. 2018;362:k2893. doi:10.1136/bmj.k2893
Stamp LK, Barclay ML.How to prevent allopurinol hypersensitivity reactions?Rheumatology(Oxford). 2018 Jan 1;57(suppl_1):i35-i41. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kex422
Radak-Perović M, Zlatković-Svenda M.The efficacy and tolerability of allopurinol dose escalation in patients with gout.Srp Arh Celok Lek. 2013;141(5-6):333-6. doi:10.2298/sarh1306333r
Feng X, Li Y, Gao W.Prophylaxis on gout flares after the initiation of urate-lowering therapy: a retrospective research.Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(11):21460-21465. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keu157
Food and Drug Administration.Drug interactions: What you should know.
Casper Pharma.ZYLOPRIM ® (allopurinol).
Neogi T, Chen C, Niu J, et al.Alcohol quantity and type on risk of recurrent gout attacks: an internet-based case-crossover study.Am J Med. 2014;127(4):311-318. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.12.019
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