HOW TO USE: Take allopurinol
tablets by mouth. Follow the directions on the
prescription label. Swallow the tablets with
a drink of water. If allopurinol upsets your
stomach, take it with food or milk. Take your
doses at regular intervals. Do not take your
medicine more often than directed.
SIDE EFFECTS: Side effects to allopurinol
are rare but some can be serious. Side effects
that you should report to your prescriber or
health care professional as soon as possible:
any type of skin rash or itching; any signs
of an allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing,
wheezing, swelling or irritation of the eyes,
or swelling of the lips and mouth; blood in
urine; muscle aches or pains; pain or difficulty
passing urine, reduced amount of urine; redness,
blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin,
including inside the mouth; sore throat, fever,
or chills.
Side effects that usually do not require medical
attention (report to your prescriber or health
care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
diarrhea; headache; indigestion; loss of appetite;
nausea, vomiting; nose bleeds; stomach pain
or cramps.
PRECAUTIONS: Visit your prescriber or
health care professional for regular checks
on your progress. If you are taking allopurinol
to treat gout, you may not have less frequent
attacks at first. Keep taking your medicine
regularly and the attacks should get better
within 2 to 6 weeks. Drink plenty of water (10
to 12 full glasses a day) while you are taking
allopurinol. This will help to reduce stomach
upset and reduce the risk of getting gout or
kidney stones.
Call your prescriber or health care professional
at once if you get a skin rash together with
chills, fever, sore throat, or nausea and vomiting;
if you have blood in your urine, or difficulty
passing urine; irritation of the eyes; or swelling
of the lips and mouth.
Alcohol can increase the chance of stomach problems
and increase the amount of uric acid in your
blood. Avoid alcohol.
Do not take vitamin C without asking your prescriber
or health care professional. Too much vitamin
C can increase the chance of getting kidney
stones.
You may get drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery,
or do anything that needs mental alertness until
you know how allopurinol affects you.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Aluminum hydroxide;
amoxicillin or ampicillin; azathioprine; certain
medicines used to treat gout; certain types
of water pills (diuretics); chlorpropamide;
cyclosporine; mercaptopurine; theophylline;
warfarin.
Tell your prescriber or health care professional
about all other medicines you are taking, including
non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements,
or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber
or health care professional if you are a frequent
user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if
you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These
may affect the way your medicine works. Check
with your health care professional before stopping
or starting any of your medicines.
NOTES: Prescriber needs to know if you
have any of these conditions: kidney disease;
liver disease; an unusual or allergic reaction
to allopurinol, other medicines, foods, dyes,
or preservatives; pregnant or trying to get
pregnant; breast feeding.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take
it as soon as you can. If it is almost time
for your next dose, take only that dose. Do
not take double or extra doses.
STORAGE: Keep out of the reach of children
in a container that small children cannot open.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 25
degrees C (59 and 77 degrees F). Protect from
moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after
the expiration date.
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