Zyloprim
Health Benefits
lowers the likelihood of gout
decreases the likelihood of kidney stones
lowers uric acid levels in patients undergoing cancer treatment
Side Effects
Typical negative effects could be:
uneasy stomach
diarrhea
aching or weakened muscles
joints hurt
rash
headache
rare adverse effects could include:
A red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially to the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling is a sign of a severe skin reaction, along with other symptoms like fever, sore throat, swelling of the face or tongue, burning in the eyes, and skin pain.
kidney issues include infrequent or infrequent urination, painful or difficult urination, ankle or foot swelling, and fatigue or shortness of breath.
Nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) are symptoms of liver problems.
Dosage
For gout patients, a daily dose of 100 mg of allopurinol is advised as the starting point. Up until the uric acid level returns to normal or until side effects start to bother you, the dose may be increased by 100 mg every two to four weeks.
For those undergoing cancer treatment, the recommended starting dose of allopurinol is 300 mg per day. Your doctor might start you on a lower dose or a different dosing schedule if you have kidney disease.
Interactions
Combining Zyloprim with other sedative medications can exacerbate this effect. Before combining allopurinol with a sedative, narcotic pain reliever, muscle relaxant, or medication for anxiety, depression, or seizures, consult your doctor.
Allopurinol and numerous medications may interact. Not all potential interactions are covered in this list. As you receive treatment with Zyloprim, be sure to let your doctor know if you are taking any of the following medications:
azathioprine;
mercaptopurine;
theophylline;
cyclosporine;
anticoagulants like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
oral diabetes medications, such as glipizide or glyburide;
a "water pill" or diuretic;
cancer treatment
blood pressure or heart medication;
or seizure medication
the drug steroids.
Pharmacokinetics
Within an hour, zyloprim is almost entirely transformed into its active metabolite, oxipurinol (alloxanthine), in the gastrointestinal tract. Following an oral dose of allopurinol, the peak plasma concentration of oxipurinol typically occurs two hours later and has a mean value of about 10 micromolar (M).
Between 70% and 80% of a single oral dose of allopurinol is eliminated as oxypurinol in the urine within 24 hours in adults with normal renal function.