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ALLOPURINOL DRUG INFO

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.