Allopurinol (Allopurinol)
Overview of Allopurinol
Allopurinol is isomer of hypoxanthine, a purine. An alternative to increasing uric acid excretion in the treatment of gout is to reduce its synhtesis by inhibiting xanthine oxidase with it. It reduces elevated blood uric acid levels caused by certain conditions such as those associated with malignancies or in kidney diseases.
Indication of Allopurinol
Allopurinol is primarily indicated in conditions like Acute uric acid nephropathy, Calcium oxalate/ phosphate renal stones, Hypothyroidism (myxoedema), Idiopathic gout, Myeloproliferative disorders, Neoplastic disease, Uric acid lithiasis.
Contraindication of Allopurinol
No data regarding the contra indications of Allopurinol is available.
Side Effects of Allopurinol
The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Allopurinol, which give rise to further complications include Granulomatous hepatitis.,Allopurinol produces potentially life-threatening effects which include Stevens Johnson syndrome, Stevens Johnson syndrome, Hepatitis, Eosinophilia, Lymphadenopathy, Interstitial nephritis. which are responsible for the discontinuation of Allopurinol therapy.,The signs and symptoms that are produced after the acute overdosage of Allopurinol include GI intolerance.,The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Allopurinol are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Skin rashes, Pruritus, Skin rashes.
Precautions of Allopurinol
Periodically perform liver and kidney function and complete blood counts, especially during first few months of therapy. Allopurinol should be used with caution in patients with renal (kidney) impairment. Initially give low doses of allopurinol to patients and increase at weekly intervals by 100 mg until serum uric acid level of 6 mg/dl or less is attained with out exceeding maximum recommended dose.