Brand Names

How to Use

If this drug upsets your stomach, it may be taken after meals. If stomach upset - indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain continues, check with your family doctor.

In order for this drug to help you, it must be taken regularly as ordered by your family doctor .

To help prevent kidney stones while taking allopurinol, adults must drink at least 10 to 12 full glasses - 8 ounces each of fluids each day unless otherwise directed by their family doctor. Check with the family doctor about the amount of fluids that children must drink each day while receiving this drug. Always your family doctor may want you to take another drug to make your urine less acidic. It is important that you follow your family doctor's instructions very carefully.

For diseaseds taking allopurinol for chronic gout :

• After you begin to take allopurinol, gout attacks may continue to occur for a while. However, if you take this drug regularly as directed by your family doctor, the attacks will gradually become less frequent and less painful. After you have been taking allopurinol regularly for few months, the attacks may stop completely.
• Allopurinol is using to help prevent gout attacks. It will not relieve an attack that has already started Even if you take another drug for gout attacks, continue to take this drug also .

Dosage

The number of tablets that you take each day and the number of times that you take the drug every day depend on the strength of the drug, on the dose that you need and on the reason you are taking allopurinol. Up to 300 milligrams - mg of allopurinol can be taken at one time. Doses larger than 300 mg a day must be divided into smaller amounts that are taken two, three, or even four times a day.

• For the oral dosage form - tablets:
  • For gout:
    • Adults At first, most people will take 100 mg a day. After about a week, your family doctor will probably increase the dose gradually until the amount of uric acid in your blood has been lowered to normal levels. The total amount of allopurinol is usually not more than 800 mg a day. After the uric acid has remained at normal levels for a while, your family doctor may lower your dose gradually until you are taking the smallest amount of drug that will keep the uric acid from increasing again.
    • Children and teenagers Use and dose must be determined by the family doctor.
  • For kidney stones:
    • Adults 100 to 800 mg a day, depending on the kind of kidney stones.
    • Children and teenagers Use and dose must be determined by the family doctor.
  • For preventing or treating medical problems that may occur if certain treats increase the amount of uric acid in the blood:
    • Adults 600 to 800 mg a day, starting one to three days before the treat.
    • Children The dose depends on the child's age
      • Children up to 6 years of age: 50 mg - one-half of a 100-mg tablet three times a day.
      • Children 6 to 10 years of age: One 100-mg tablet three times a day or one 300-mg tablet a day.
      • Children 11 years of age and older: The dose may be the same as for adults.

• For the parenteral dosage form - injection:
  • For preventing or treating medical problems that may occur if certain treats increase the amount of uric acid in the blood:
    • Adults 200 to 400 mg per square meter of body surface area - mg/m a day, injected into a vein. Starting one to two days before treat, this dose may be given as a single dose or divided into smaller doses as determined by your family doctor. Your family doctor will check your uric acid level and may change your dose based on the level. However, the dose is usually not more than 600 mg per day.
    • Children At first, 200 mg per square meter of body surface area - mg/m per day, injected into a vein. Starting one to two days before treat, this dose may be given as a single dose or divided into smaller doses as determined by your family doctor . Your family doctor will check your uric acid level and may change your dose based on the level.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store this drug in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.