Uloric
Febuxostat
Febuxostat (feb UX oh stat) is a generic medication prescribed for hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels) in certain adults with gout. Febuxostat belongs to a group of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors.
Febuxostat (feb UX oh stat) is a generic medication prescribed for hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels) in certain adults with gout. Febuxostat belongs to a group of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors.
- Generic
- • Tablet
- • 40mg
- • 30 Tablets
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Intro
Introduction
Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on August 12, 2023
Febuxostat (feb UX oh stat) is a generic medication prescribed for hyperuricemia (high uric acid levels) in certain adults with gout. Febuxostat belongs to a group of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors.
Boxed warning: Risk of cardiovascular death
Febuxostat oral tablet has a boxed warning about the risk of cardiovascular death in people with heart or blood vessel disease. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For details, see the “Interactions and warnings for febuxostat” section.
Side effects
Side effects of febuxostat
Febuxostat may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of febuxostat and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.
To learn more about febuxostat’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for febuxostat listed in the “Resources” section.
Mild side effects
More common mild side effects reported with febuxostat are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about febuxostat’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for febuxostat listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.
Febuxostat oral tablet’s mild side effects include:
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- joint pain
- nausea
- mild allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for febuxostat” section.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of febuxostat are listed below.
This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about febuxostat’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for febuxostat listed in the “Resources” section.
With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
In general, febuxostat’s serious side effects include:
- liver problems or liver failure
- boxed warning: risk of cardiovascular death in people with heart or blood vessel disease*
- severe allergic reaction*
* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for febuxostat” section.
FAQs
Common questions about febuxostat
Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about febuxostat.
Is febuxostat similar to allopurinol?
Yes, febuxostat is similar to allopurinol. They both belong to a group of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Doctors prescribe these drugs to treat high uric acid levels in adults who have gout. But allopurinol doesn’t have a boxed warning about the risk of cardiovascular death in people with heart or blood vessel disease. Because of this risk, doctors will only prescribe febuxostat if allopurinol isn’t an option.
You can learn more about how febuxostat and allopurinol compare by talking with your doctor or pharmacist.
How does febuxostat work? And how long does it take to start working?
Febuxostat’s mechanism of action (how the drug works) is to block an enzyme called xanthine oxidase. This enzyme helps your body make uric acid from substances called purines. High levels of uric acid can cause gout. By blocking the enzyme that makes uric acid, febuxostat can help prevent gout attacks (flares of gout symptoms). But it can’t treat a gout attack that’s already happening.
It takes a few weeks for febuxostat to start working to lower uric acid levels. But it may take up to 6 months for the drug to help prevent gout attacks. This is because your body stores uric acid in your tissues. As blood levels of uric acid go down, more gets pulled out of the tissues and into the blood. It can take several months to deplete these stores. Your doctor will likely prescribe other medications to manage and help prevent gout symptoms for the first 6 months of febuxostat treatment.
If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Uses
Uses of febuxostat
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as febuxostat for certain conditions. Approved uses for febuxostat are described below.
Use for high uric acid levels
Doctors may prescribe febuxostat oral tablet for treating high uric acid levels in the blood. It’s used for this purpose in adults with gout who can’t take allopurinol or when allopurinol doesn’t work. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.
With high uric acid levels in the blood, crystals can form in the joints and cause gout. People with gout usually experience flares of symptoms called gout attacks. Symptoms of a gout attack include joint pain, redness, warmth, and swelling. Febuxostat can help treat gout by lowering uric acid levels. This helps prevent gout attacks.
Febuxostat can be prescribed together with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or colchicine.
Doctors may not prescribe febuxostat oral tablet to people with high uric acid levels who don’t have any gout symptoms.
Interactions and warnings
Interactions and warnings for febuxostat
Below, you’ll find information about febuxostat’s possible interactions and warnings.
Interactions of febuxostat
Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.
Before you take febuxostat, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:
- prescription or over-the-counter drugs
- vitamins, herbs, or supplements
To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for febuxostat” section below.
Warnings for febuxostat
Some people should not take febuxostat, and others should take it cautiously.
Boxed warning: Risk of cardiovascular death
Febuxostat has a boxed warning about the risk of cardiovascular death in people with heart or blood vessel disease. Boxed warnings are the most serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
People with gout who also have heart or blood vessel disease may have a higher risk of death while taking febuxostat. In studies of febuxostat, people taking febuxostat had a higher rate of sudden cardiac death than people taking allopurinol. Due to this risk, febuxostat should only be used if allopurinol isn’t an option or hasn’t worked.
For people taking febuxostat, it’s important to know the symptoms of serious cardiovascular problems such as:
- chest pain, discomfort, or tightness
- dizziness or fainting
- heart palpitations or a pounding heartbeat
- numbness or weakness on one side of the body
- pain that spreads to the jaw, neck, back, shoulder, or arm
- shortness of breath
If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
To learn more, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Other warnings
Febuxostat could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether febuxostat is a safe option for you.
Ask your doctor about specific warnings for febuxostat, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:
- current health, including any allergies to medications
- past health conditions or surgeries
Allergic reaction
Febuxostat can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to febuxostat or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe febuxostat. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.
A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:
- severe skin rashes that may blister and peel
- swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
- swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems
If you have an allergic reaction to febuxostat, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Overdose of febuxostat
If you take febuxostat by mouth, you should not take more febuxostat than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you think you’ve taken too much febuxostat, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding and febuxostat
Information about febuxostat and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.
Febuxostat and pregnancy
It’s not known whether febuxostat should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Febuxostat and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether febuxostat should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Ask your doctor
What to ask your doctor
Let your doctor know if you have questions about febuxostat or would like more details about it.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- How should I take febuxostat?
- What should I do if I have a gout attack while taking febuxostat?
- Am I at higher risk of side effects than other people?
Resources
Resources
- Febuxostat tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/d3b18653-9487-4a78-82c0-80ee024b8ef6/spl-doc
- Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
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.
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