Key Patient Counseling Points:

• Take after meals to lessen gastric irritation.
• Maintain adequate hydration during therapy.
• Patient should avoid alcohol or caffeine while taking allopurinol.
• Seek medical attention if signs and symptoms of myelosuppression, agranulocytosis (severe neutropenia), or Stevens-Johnson syndrome (flu-like symptoms, spreading red rash, or skin/mucous membrane blistering) occur.

Class:

Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor; Antigout

Mechanism of Action:

Allopurinol decreases the production of uric acid by inhibiting the action of xanthine oxidase, the enzyme that converts hypoxanthine to xanthine and xanthine to uric acid.

• Key Patient Counseling Points