Febuxostat

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:

Febuxostat - What is it for

Febuxostat belongs to a class of medicines called xanthine oxidase inhibitor. It is used for reducing uric acid (also known as urate) levels, stopping crystal formation and dissolving crystals for excretion. Over time, it reduces gout flares and its associated symptoms. Keeping uric acid levels sufficiently low for a long enough period can also shrink tophi (bumps containing urate deposits at the joints).

Febuxostat - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Febuxostat cause?

Some common side effects that you may experience include:

Diarrhoea
Nausea
Headache
Edema (localized swelling due to retention of fluids in tissues)
Muscle pain
Joint pain

Majority of these effects tend to resolve by themselves.

Increase gout flare when you first start taking Febuxostat

To prevent this, your doctor may prescribe other medicines, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or Colchicine with Febuxostat for the first 6 months.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately

Liver problems - possible symptoms include dark urine, feeling tired, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, light-coloured stools, vomiting, or yellow skin or eyes
Blood clot in the vessels - possible symptoms include severe chest pain with extreme sweating, severe headache, severe giddiness, passing out, change in strength on different sides of the body, difficulty speaking or thinking. These suggest heart attack and stroke

WARNING: CARDIOVASCULAR DEATH

Gout patients with established cardiovascular (CV) disease treated with FEBUXOSTAT had a higher rate of CV death compared to those treated with allopurinol in a CV outcomes study.
Consider the risks and benefits of FEBUXOSTAT when deciding to prescribe or continue patients on FEBUXOSTAT. FEBUXOSTAT should only be used in patients who have an inadequate response to a maximally titrated dose of allopurinol, who are intolerant to allopurinol, or for whom treatment with allopurinol is not advisable.

Before taking Febuxostat , what precautions must I follow?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies. Febuxostat may interact with other medicine or supplement that you are taking
You have heart, kidney, liver or thyroid problems

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Febuxostat ?

Medicines such as Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine, Pegloticase and Theophylline should not be taken together with Febuxostat as they might increase the chance of you experiencing severe side effects. Let your doctor know that you are taking Febuxostat before other medications are prescribed.

Febuxostat - Dosage and How to Use

How should Febuxostat be used?

The tablets can be taken with or without food.
Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
Continue to take Febuxostat as prescribed even when you are not experiencing a gout flare or attack.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.