What are the long term effects of taking allopurinol?
What are the long term effects of taking allopurinol?
If allopurinol works for you, you may need to take it for the rest of your life to treat gout and kidney stones. Is it safe to take for a long time? Allopurinol is considered very safe to take for a long period of time. There are unlikely to be any long-term effects.
What are the common side effects of allopurinol?
The more common side effects of allopurinol oral tablet can include:
- skin rash.
- diarrhea.
- nausea.
- changes in your liver function test results.
- gout flare-up (if you have gout)
How long can you take allopurinol?
Treatment with allopurinol is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise by a doctor. There are a number of lifestyle changes that you can make to help reduce the risk of having a gout attack.
Is there an alternative to allopurinol?
Febuxostat, a novel nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, is a potential alternative to allopurinol for patients with hyperuricemia and gout.
Does coffee interfere with allopurinol?
Over time, however, taking the drug gradually decreases the amount of uric acid to a point where attacks no longer occur. That’s why occasional coffee drinkers may have more gout attacks when taking allopurinol, while regular coffee drinkers may not.
Can uric acid be cured permanently?
Patients can never be cured of gout. It is a long-term disease that can be controlled by a combination of medication to control the uric acid level, and anti-inflammation drugs to treat a flare-up. “Lowering the level of uric acid is key to treating gout, and patients must understand this.
Is coffee good for uric acid?
Coffee is thought to reduce gout risk by lowering uric acid levels through several mechanisms . Coffee may lower uric acid levels by increasing the rate that your body excretes uric acid. Coffee is also thought to compete with the enzyme that breaks down purines in the body.
When should I take allopurinol?
Allopurinol is taken as a tablet once a day. It is usually better to take it just after eating and the tablet should be swallowed with water. It is important to drink plenty of water during the day because this will help you get rid of more urate through your kidneys.
How much Allopurinol is safe to take?
The minimum dosage of allopurinol is 100 mg per day and the maximum is 800 mg per day; however, a person should only take 300 mg of allopurinol at one time. For example, a person on 600 mg per day should take 300 mg twice a day.
What are the side effects of allopurinol?
Agitation
Does allopurinol cause weight gain?
If you experience any unanticipated reaction while taking allopurinol, contact your doctor immediately. Allopurinol would be more likely to cause weight loss than weight gain. Patients report weight loss, nausea and loss of appetite with allopurinol.