Allopurinol and Gout

Allopurinol and Gout




Allopurinol or commonly known as Zyloprim has been used as a control for the treatment of gout and the prevention of kidney stones and Gout.

For the past 30 years Allopurinol has been used to decrease the uric acid levels in the blood and urine, and has also been used successfully in the treatment of uric acid levels in patients who are under chemotherapy treatments for leukemia, and tumor lysis syndrome in cancer patients.

This drug is used for versions of gout such as tophi build up, uric acid stones, and destructive joint gout.

The average dosage is 200 - 300 mg for an adult and for more severegout the dosage is around the 400-600mg per day.

For uric kidney stone sufferers 600 - 800 mg per day , but this is determined by the patients medical background. If under cancer treatments then the treatment will start days before and after the chemotherapy treatments.

Children suffering from Cancer and uric acid kidney stones generally have around the 10mg per day divided up into smaller dosages.

Allopurinol and Gout:

Allopurinol helps prevent or blocks the formation of uric acid by releasing a substance called xanthine oxidase.

Dangers of Allopurinol

Women who are pregnant should not take this drug as the fetus can be effected.

This also includes breast feeding mothers, as Allopurinol in even a small dosage can extremely effect new born babies.

This drug should not be mixed with a patient taking other drugs such as high blood pressure diuretic drugs or angiotensin drugs such as enalapril, captopril and listinopril.

It is also not recommended for people who are have hemochromatosis or too much iron in their body.
Also not recommended to be used until the symptoms of Gout are gone, but if using the drug before a gout attack occurs then you can continue to take it.

Gout attacks may be more severe for some individuals taking allopurinol at first, and due to this doctors may also prescribe colchicine which helps stop or block inflammation, or they can prescribe low dose NSAIDs.

Doctors will also take into consideration the use of uricosuric medications in preference over allopurinol due to its rare risk of serious side effects.


Side effects of Allopurinol

Side effects of Allopurinol consist of itching

Rashes

Swelling of the mouth and lips

Jaundice type of effects such as yellow skin and eyes

Blood in the urine and painful urination

Bleeding for no reason

Bruising for no reason

Loss of hair

Fevers or temperatures

Nausea

Vomiting

Poor kidney function

Constant tiredness

Hives

Eye irritations

Loss of appetite

Can effect blood thinner drugs such as warfarin and also cause bleeding with this drug.

Nerve toxicitiy taken with vidarbine

Can affect the liver and its functions when taken with diabetic drugs and cause liver toxicity.

Inflammation of blood vessels

Do not take with amoxicillin and ampicillin drugs due to allergic reactions.

Also known to cause kidney and bone marrow damage.



History of Allopurinol


Allopurinol and Gout:

Discovered by accident in 1956 Allopurinol was used as a cancer treatment.

First marketed as a gout drug in 1963, and in 1970 the New England journal of medicine first reported strong links to deaths due to this drug. In 1986 there were 22 deaths linked to this drug.

This quote was published in the journal of Arthritis and Rheumatism in 1986 "significant morbidity and mortality associated with the allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome" also issued with a warning for doctors prescribing this drug.

Allopurinol and Gout

Always seek medical advice before taking any drug or herb for Gout.






BeAware Be Gout Aware.

Allopurinol and Gout