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Medicine, Its Use And Remidies for Ailments - Allopurinol
Allopurinol (Al-loh-pew-rin-oll) is a medicine which is used in prevention of calcium oxalate renal stones, prevention of gout and prevention of hyperuricaemia.
Allopurinol has been prescribed for your current medical problems and should not be used for other medical problems. Do not share your medicine with other people as it may not be suitable for them and could cause them harm. In the same way, you should not use medicines that belong to other people.
The pharmacy label on your medicine tells you how much medicine you should take. It also tells you how often to take your medicine. This is the dose that you and your prescriber have agreed you should take. Depending on your response to the medicine, how the medicine works and the goals of your treatment, your prescriber may vary your dose. You should not change the dose of your medicine unless you are told to do so by your prescriber.
Allopurinol lowers the level of uric acid in the blood and urine. This helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones and to prevent attacks of gout. It can also be used to treat high levels of uric acid in the blood.
If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber.
When to take your medicine
Some medicines work best if they are taken at a specific time of day. Getting the most benefit from your medicine can also be affected by what you eat, when you eat and the times at which you take other medicines.
Specific information on when to take Allopurinol can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine or on the medicine label. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about when to take your medicine.
How to take your medicine
Some medicines have specific instructions about how to take them. This is because they work better when taken correctly. These instructions can include getting the right dose and special instructions for preparing the medicine.
Specific information on how to take Allopurinol can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine or on the medicine label. Alternatively, you can request information about how to take your medicine from your doctor or pharmacist.
If you are having problems taking this form of Allopurinol, you should talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. They may be able to give you advice on other ways to take your medicine or other preparations that are easier for you to take.
Taking too much of your medicine
Taking extra doses of some medicines can be harmful. In some cases even one extra dose can cause you problems. If you take extra doses of your medicine, you must get medical advice immediately. You may need a test to assess the effect of taking extra doses. This is because the effects of taking too much medicine are very complex and it is therefore essential that you seek medical advice.
Contact your prescriber, pharmacist or specialist clinic for advice.
Make sure you take all of your medicine containers with you if you are advised to go to hospital.
Stopping your medicine
Suddenly stopping your medicine may cause your original condition to return. This is why you must speak to your prescriber if you are having any problems taking your medicine.
If you are not having any problems taking this medicine, do not stop taking it unless advised to do so by your prescriber.
If you are in any doubt, contact your prescriber, pharmacist or specialist clinic.
Looking after your medicine
The instructions on how you should keep your medicine are on the pharmacy label. It is a good idea to keep your medicine in the original container. This will help to keep your medicine in the best condition and also allow you to check the instructions. Do not take the medicine if the packaging appears to have been tampered with or if the medicine shows any signs of damage. Make sure that the medicine is out of the sight and reach of children.
Specific information on how to look after Allopurinol can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with this medicine or on the medicine label. Alternatively, you can request information about how to look after your medicine from your doctor or pharmacist.
You must not take the medicine after the expiry date shown on the packaging. If you have any unused medicine, return it to your pharmacist who will dispose of it safely.
Is this medicine suitable for you?
Allopurinol is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.
Your prescriber may not prescribe this medicine if you:
- are allergic to any of the ingredients in the medicine
- have an attack of gout at the moment
- have heart problems
- have high blood pressure
- have kidney problems
- have liver problems
Your prescriber may also arrange for you to have tests to check that:
- to confirm that this is the right dose
- to determine whether or not the medicine is suitable and whether it must be prescribed with extra caution
- to check that this medicine is not having any undesired effects
Over time it is possible that Allopurinol can become unsuitable for some people. If at any time it appears that Allopurinol has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.
Side Effects
Some side-effects may be serious while others may only be a mild inconvenience. Very occasionally, certain side-effects can be beneficial.
Everyone's reaction to a medicine is different. It is difficult to predict which side-effects you will have from taking a particular medicine, or whether you will have any side-effects at all. The important thing is to tell your prescriber or pharmacist if you are having problems with your medicine.
The frequency of these side-effects is unknown
- abnormal laboratory test results
- anaphylactic shock
- angina
- angioedema
- arthritis
- blood in the urine
- blood or bone marrow problems
- bowel routine changes
- breast enlargement in men
- coma
- depression
- diabetes
- difficulty controlling movements
- eye or eyesight problems
- general feeling of being unwell
- hair colour changes
- hair loss
- headaches
- hypersensitivity reactions - if this happens get medical advice immediately. You should look out for skin problems that occur at the same time as: fever, lymphadenopathy, joint pains, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis
- impotence
- infertility
- kidney problems
- liver problems
- mouth problems
- nausea
- neuropathies
- oedema
- paraesthesiae
- paralysis
- raised blood pressure
- seizures
- sleepiness
- slower heart rate
- steatorrhoea
- taste changes
- tiredness
- urinary problems
- vasculitis
- vertigo
- vomiting
- vomiting blood
- weakness
If you feel unwell or if you have concerns about a side-effect, you will need to seek advice. If you feel very ill, get medical help straight away. Contact your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse.
Taking other medicines
If you are taking more than one medicine; they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.
The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.
Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.
The following medicines may interact with Allopurinol:
- 6-mercaptopurine
- amoxicillin
- ampicillin
- azathioprine
- bleomycin
- chlorpropamide
- ciclosporin
- cyclophosphamide
- doxorubicin
- mechloroethamine
- phenytoin
- probenecid
- procarbazine
- theophylline
- vidarabine
- warfarin
The following types of medicine may interact with Allopurinol:
- ACE inhibitors
- coumarin anticoagulants
- cytotoxics
- diuretics
- salicylates
- uricosuric agents
If you are taking Allopurinol and one of the above medicines or types of medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.
Complementary preparations and vitamins
Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins. In general, there is not much information available about interactions between medicines and complementary preparations or vitamins.
Make sure you tell your prescriber the names of all the complementary preparations and vitamins that you are taking or are planning to take.
Your prescriber can then advise whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact. They can also discuss with you the possible effect that the complementary preparations and vitamins will have on your condition.
- there are no known interactions between Allopurinol and any complementary preparations or vitamins
If you experience any unusual effects while taking this medicine in combination with complementary preparations and vitamins, you should tell your prescriber.
Driving and operating machinery
When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
- this medicine could affect your ability to drive or operate machinery
You should see how this medicine affects you before you judge whether you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt about whether you should drive or operate machinery, talk to your prescriber.
Diet
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.
- there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when taking Allopurinol
Alcohol
Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.
- there are no known interactions between alcohol and Allopurinol
Pregnancy
Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.
- you should only take this medicine during pregnancy if your doctor thinks that you need it
You need to discuss your specific circumstances with your doctor to weigh up the overall risks and benefits of taking this medicine. You and your doctor can make a decision about whether you are going to take this medicine during pregnancy.
If the decision is that you should not have Allopurinol, then you should discuss whether there is an alternative medicine that you could take during pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.
- this medicine passes into breast milk. It is not known if taking Allopurinol and breast-feeding may affect your baby
Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. They will help you decide what is best for you and your baby based on the benefits and risks associated with this medicine. You should only breast-feed your baby while taking this medicine on the advice of your doctor or midwife.
Ingredients
Medicines contain active ingredients. They may also contain other, additional ingredients that help ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the medicine. They are also added to improve the medicine's taste and appearance and to make it easier to take. Some may be used to prolong the life of the medicine.
This medicine contains allopurinol.
Disclaimer - eHealth Treats does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services. Consulting a Qualified Medical Practitioner is always recommended. eHealth Treats does not and should not be taken as a substitute for a Qualified Medical Practitioner.
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