Uloric

Generic name: Febuxostat

Drug class: Antihyperuricemic agents

Dosage forms: Tablet

Root of administration: Oral

Dose: 40, 80 mg

Mechanism of action: Uloric reduces the production of uric acid in your body. A build-up of uric acid can cause gout symptoms.

Drug usage cases: Uloric is used to keep uric acid levels from getting to high in people with gout. Uloric is for use only in people who cannot take another medicine called allopurinol, or when allopurinol has stopped working.

Drug contra indications: You should not use Uloric if you are allergic to febuxostat, or if you also use:

azathioprine; or mercaptopurine. Taking febuxostat may increase your risk of serious or fatal heart problems. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of this medicine. To make sure Uloric is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart problems; a heart attack or stroke; liver or kidney disease, cancer; Lesch-Nyhan syndrome; or an organ transplant (kidney, liver, lung, heart).

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Uloric (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling). Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include: skin rash, fever, swollen glands, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes. This reaction may occur several weeks after you began using Uloric. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; heart attack symptoms – chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, fast heartbeats, shortness of breath; liver problems – stomach pain (upper right side), unusual tiredness, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or signs of a stroke – sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance.

Warnings: Taking Uloric increase your risk of serious or fatal heart problems. Seek medical attention if you have chest pain, trouble breathing, fast heartbeats, sudden severe headache, numbness or weakness on one side of your body, or problems with vision or speech. You should not use Uloric if you also use azathioprine or mercaptopurine. Before taking Uloric, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a history of heart attack or stroke, or if you have ever received an organ transplant. You may have an increase in gout symptom flares when you first start taking Uloric. For best results, keep taking the medication as directed. Your doctor may prescribe other gout medications for you to use during the first 6 months of treatment. To be sure Uloric is helping your condition, your blood may need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: It is not known whether febuxostat will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It may not be safe to breast-feed while using Uloric. Ask your doctor about any risk.