Zyloprim

Zyloprim is a prescription medication used to treat gout, high levels of uric acid, and kidney stones. Zyloprim belongs to a group of drugs call xanthine oxidase inhibitors, which work by decreasing uric acid in the body. High levels of uric acid may lead to gout attacks or kidney stones.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once a day or in divided doses, with food and water.

Common side effects of Zyloprim include diarrhea, nausea, and rash. Zyloprim can also cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Zyloprim affects you.

Zyloprim is a prescription medication used to prevent gout, not to treat gout attacks once they occur.

It is also used to prevent kidney stones and high levels of uric acid in the body due to cancer treatment.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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Zyloprim may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• nausea (upset stomach)
• gout attacks

Some side effects can be serious. The following side effects occur less frequently, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

• rash
• painful urination
• blood in the urine
• irritation of the eyes
• swelling of the lips or mouth
• fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
• loss of appetite
• unexpected weight loss
• itching

This is not a complete list of Zyloprim drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• an ACE inhibitor
• cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
• mercaptopurine (Purinethol)
• azathioprine (Imuran)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)
• didanosine (Videx, Videx EC)
• sulfinpyrazone (Anturane)
• a diuretic (thiazides)
• ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen, Polycillin)
• amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox)

This is not a complete list of Zyloprim drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious allergic reactions including death have occurred with Zyloprim. Stop taking this medication and talk to your doctor if you develop a skin rash.

Zyloprim, while it is used to prevent gout attacks, can temporarily cause flare-ups of gouty arthritis at the start of therapy. Your doctor may recommend another medication, such as colchicine, be taken along with Zyloprim at first, to prevent these flare-ups.

Drink plenty of water or other fluids each day while taking Zyloprim to prevent kidney stone formation.

Zyloprim can cause drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how Zyloprim affects you.

Serious liver problems have occurred with Zyloprim use. While these events are rare, tell your doctor if you experience weight loss, lack of appetite, and itching. Your doctor will likely run tests to check your liver function.

Kidney failure has occurred in some people who took Zyloprim.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Zyloprim there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Zyloprim.

Before receiving Zyloprim, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions including if you:

• have liver or kidney disease
• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are allergic to any medications, foods, dyes or preservatives

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Zyloprim falls into category C. There are no good studies that have been done in humans with Zyloprim. In animals studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. However, this medication may sometimes still help human mothers and their babies more than it might cause harm.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Zyloprim is found in breastmilk. Since the effect of Zyloprim on the nursing infant is unknown, caution should be used when Zyloprim is given to a nursing woman.

• Zyloprim is a tablet to be taken by mouth, usually once a day or in divided doses.
• To avoid upset stomach, take Zyloprim after a meal. Drink plenty of water or other fluids each day, unless directed to do otherwise by your doctor.
• If you miss a dose of Zyloprim, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at once.

• Take Zyloprim exactly as prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.
• Your doctor will determine the best dose for you based on, the medical condition being treated, the severity of your condition, other medications you're taking, other conditions you have, and how your body responds to Zyloprim.
• The adult dosage range is 100 mg to 800 mg. Your doctor will likely start you on a low dose and gradually increase the dose to avoid a flare-up of gout attacks which may occur when starting Zyloprim.
• The recommended starting dose is 100 mg daily. The Zyloprim dose is then increased by 100 mg each week based on the uric acid level in your blood.
• The maximum recommended dose is 800 mg. Doses higher than 300 mg should be divided into two or three smaller doses per day.
• The adult dose for patients with cancer is Zyloprim 600 mg or 800 mg daily (divided into two or three smaller doses per day) for two or three days, together with a high intake of fluids.
• To prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones in adults is 200 mg or 300 mg per day, taken as a single dose or as a few (two or three) smaller doses throughout the day.
• Dose adjustment may be made according to your kidney function as well.
• For children with cancer, ages 6 to 10, the recommended daily dose is 300 mg. Children under 6 years of age are usually given 150 mg Zyloprim daily. 

If you take too much too much Zyloprim, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store Zyloprim at room temperature away from excess moisture and light.
• Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.