Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved allopurinol oral tablet to treat the following conditions in adults and some children:
This article describes possible side effects of allopurinol oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for allopurinol.
Allopurinol oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drugs Zyloprim and Lopurin. Allopurinol also comes in an injectable form, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about injectable allopurinol, talk with your doctor.
You can explore this overview article to learn more about allopurinol oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, dosage, ways to save on cost, and more.
More common side effects of allopurinol
Allopurinol oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of allopurinol oral tablet include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of allopurinol in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of allopurinol
Allopurinol may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of allopurinol oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- change in or loss of sense of taste
- diarrhea
- drowsiness
- fever
- hair loss
- headache
- increased liver enzyme level, which, in rare cases, can be a sign of liver problems
- muscle pain*
- joint pain
- nausea
- nosebleed
- numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- upset stomach
- mild allergic reaction,* including mild skin rash
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of allopurinol in detail” section below.
Allopurinol oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of allopurinol
Allopurinol may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from allopurinol oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with allopurinol oral tablet.
Serious side effects of allopurinol oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of allopurinol in detail” section below.
Common questions about side effects of allopurinol
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of allopurinol oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does allopurinol cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases, allopurinol oral tablet may cause long-term side effects. These can begin soon after treatment is started or after someone has been taking allopurinol for a long time.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with allopurinol include:
- inflamed or damaged blood vessels, which could have long lasting effects
- liver damage, which could have long lasting effects
- gout episode (sudden, severe swelling and pain in affected joints), which may occur even after you’ve taken the drug for a long time
Keep in mind that these side effects were rare in allopurinol’s studies.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about these side effects and how to manage them best. You could also ask how long the side effects of allopurinol may last.
Will allopurinol 100 mg cause fewer side effects than allopurinol 300 mg?
Maybe. In studies, the 100-mg and 300-mg allopurinol strengths caused the same side effects.
However, in general, lower doses are less likely to cause side effects compared with higher doses. So the risk of side effects is generally lower with a 100-mg allopurinol dose compared with a 300-mg dose.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have more questions about how your allopurinol dose affects your risk of side effects.
Is weight gain a side effect of allopurinol?
No, studies have not found allopurinol causes weight gain.
Talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about your weight. They can review possible causes of weight gain, including whether any of your medications could be a factor. They can also discuss strategies to help you maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.
Coupon for allopurinol
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for allopurinol when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Side effects of allopurinol in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of allopurinol oral tablet.
Liver damage
In studies, liver damage was rare in people taking allopurinol oral tablet. While rare, this side effect may be serious.
Specific liver problems that allopurinol can cause, which may result in liver damage, include:
- liver tissue death
- enlarged liver
- clumping of immune cells in your liver
Symptoms of liver damage include:
- nausea and vomiting
- fatigue (low energy)
- jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
- dark-colored urine
- appetite loss
- fever
- skin rash
- pain in your belly
Certain factors can increase the risk of liver damage with allopurinol oral tablet. These include:
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of liver damage, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend that you stop taking allopurinol. This side effect appears to be reversible if treatment with the drug is stopped.
Your doctor may order blood tests to check your liver health during treatment. They can provide more information on how often you should have these tests while taking allopurinol. Your doctor may order the tests more often than usual if you already have a liver condition.
Muscle pain and other symptoms
You may have muscle pain or other symptoms while taking allopurinol. In studies, myopathy was rare in people taking allopurinol oral tablet. Myopathy describes conditions that affect muscles.
Symptoms of myopathy include:
- weakness
- pain
- cramping
- fatigue
Myopathy is usually a mild side effect. It may also cause problems with your tendons.
Certain factors can increase the risk of myopathy with allopurinol oral tablet. These include taking other medications that may cause myopathy, including statin drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor).
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of myopathy, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend that you stop taking allopurinol. In this case, your doctor can discuss other treatments for your condition that may be safer for you.
Gout episode
In studies, gout episodes were rare in people taking allopurinol oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.
With a gout episode, you have sudden, severe swelling and pain in affected joints. It’s thought that an increase in gout attacks when starting allopurinol treatment is related to how the drug works to reduce uric acid levels. This increased risk of gout attacks goes away as you continue taking allopurinol.
Gout episodes were more common when allopurinol was first approved for use. Doctors aren’t exactly sure why the side effect is now rare in people taking the drug. It may be related to different dosages currently being prescribed.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of a gout episode, tell your doctor. They’ll likely prescribe a treatment such as colchicine or a corticosteroid such as prednisone.
The risk of gout episodes with allopurinol oral tablet is highest when you first begin taking the drug. To help reduce your risk of a gout episode, your doctor will likely prescribe a low starting dose. And they’ll slowly increase your dose over time based on your uric acid level.
Additionally, your doctor may prescribe another medication to lower your uric acid level when you first start treatment with allopurinol. An example is colchicine.
Allergic reaction
For some people, allopurinol oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. This side effect was rare in the drug’s studies.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
In addition, life threatening allergic skin reactions have rarely occurred in people taking allopurinol. These reactions include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).
SJS and DRESS are life threatening emergencies that require immediate medical care. Symptoms to watch for include:
- rash that may blister or peel
- muscle aches
- discomfort
- swelling in your lymph nodes
- inflammation affecting your internal organs, such as the liver or heart
In addition to skin rash, some people also experience symptoms that affect other parts of the body due to an allergic reaction to allopurinol. These symptoms include:
- fever or chills
- joint pain and weakness
- jaundice (yellowing of your skin and/or the whites of your eyes)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to allopurinol oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for allopurinol
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking allopurinol oral tablet.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take allopurinol oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether allopurinol oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking allopurinol oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
Allopurinol and pregnancy
It’s not known whether allopurinol can be taken safely during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Allopurinol and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether allopurinol can be taken safely while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Allopurinol and alcohol
Allopurinol oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.
That said, your doctor may still suggest you limit or avoid consuming alcohol if you have a high uric acid level. This is because alcohol can increase the amount of uric acid in your blood.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with allopurinol oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of allopurinol oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Do other medications I take increase my risk of side effects from allopurinol?
- If I have side effects from allopurinol, but it’s working to treat my condition, could I take a lower dose?
- Will I need to have lab tests to monitor for certain side effects while I’m taking allopurinol?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
