Allopurinol Tablets 100mg

What are Allopurinol tablets?

Allopurinol tablets are taken daily to help prevent gout attacks. They are not to be used for a current gout attack, instead try a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) such as Ibuprofen tablets or gel. Colchicine is also commonly used in gout attacks.

How Allopurinol works

High uric acid levels causes sharp uric acid crystals depositing in and around your joints, this leads to joint pain and swelling. Allopurinol helps to reduce the amount of uric acid in the body.

How to buy Allopurinol tablets online

You can use our online prescription service to buy Allopurinol online in the UK. We are a regulated GPhC registered pharmacy based in the UK offering free delivery, collection and next day delivery. Any website that claims to sell Allopurinol online without a prescription is operating illegally and you could be purchasing counterfeit / fake medicine.
Upon completion of your order, our independent prescriber will then review your online assessment. If your assessment is approved, our pharmacy team will then receive a prescription and dispense your order, which will be dispatched the same day using your chosen delivery method.

How to take Allopurinol tablets

The dose of is usually between 100 - 300mg taken daily with food and a glass of water. It is important to take them daily to help your uric acid levels low.
It is not a treatment for acute gout, if you begin allopurinol and experience a gout attack continue taking it. If you are experiencing an attack of gout before starting allopurinol the attack must first be treated before starting.

How long does Allopurinol take to work?

Who cannot take Allopurinol tablets

They are generally well tolerated and suitable for most people. However it may not be suitable if you:

1. Have previously had an allergic reaction to allopurinol
2. Suffer with kidney problems - you will require close monitoring and dosage adjustments
3. Suffer with liver problems - you will require close monitoring and dosage adjustments
4. Currently suffering with a gout attack
5. Have thyroid disorders
6. Undergoing cancer treatment

Please note: If you are due an allergy test, this medication can affect your results, stop taking it a few days before your test and let the clinic know you've been taking Fexofenadine.

Help with gout

You can also help prevent gout by making lifestyle changes such as:

1. Maintaining a healthy weight
2. Eatining a healthy balanced diet
3. Stopping smoking
4. Reducing alcohol intake
5. Drinking plenty of fluids
6. Low impact excerises such as swimming, avoid any intense excercises that may put pressure on your joints
7. Avoid red meat
8. Avoid fatty foods and sugary drinks and snacks

Alcohol and Allopurinol

Alcohol has no intereaction with allopurinol however, drinking alcohol while taking these tablets may trigger more attacks of gout.

Allopurinol and driving

Allopurinol can cause drowsiness in certain people, although it is rare for it to do so. If this occurs do not drive or operate heavy machinary. If you have never taken allopurinol before take one and wait to see your response to the medicine before driving anywhere.

Allopurinol and pregnancy

It is not reommended to take this medication if you are currently, could be or are trying to become pregnant as there is not enough evidence of its use during pregnancy.

Allopurinol and breastfeeding

While it expected to be safe to take during breasfeeding, a tiny amount can still pass through breast milk into your child. It is unlikely to have any effect, but if you notice any change in you babys behaviour such as not feeding as well as usual, is unusually sleepy or you have any concerns contact your doctor or health visitor.

Allopurinol interactions

There are minimal interactions the main ones to watch out for are:

1. ACE inhibitors such as Ramipril
2. Thiazide diuretics such as Bendoflumethiazide
3. Anti-biotics such as Amoxicillin

You can take allopurinol alongside these medications but you may experience an increased risk of side effects.
You should also be aware that any herbal or alternative remedies you take may also interact with this medication and cause side effects. If you are taking any herbal or alternative remedies make sure to mention them to your GP, or on the consultation form so we can make sure they are safe to take together.
For a full list of interactions see: Allopurinol interactions.

Allopurinol side effects

As with any medication you take, there is a possibility of side effects occurring. Most people do not experience any side effect and if they do they will usually be mild. The most common experienced side effects include:

1. Nausea (feeling sick)
2. Vomiting (feeling sick)

You can try eating little and often and drinking plenty of water to help manage any side effects. Side effects should go away as you get used to the medication, if any of the side effects persist, contact your doctor for advice.
If you experience a fast or irregular heartbeat, contact 111 or your GP for further advice.
If you would like to see a full list of side effects please refer to the SPC below or look in the patient information leaflet.

If you experience a new skin rash or redness discontinue use immediately and contact your doctor as your dose may need adjusting.
If you experience any signs of jaundice such as yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, unexplained bruising, high temperature, sore throat and swollen glands, unusually thirsty or unexplained bruising contact your doctor immediately.

More Allopurinol information

If you would like more information, you can find the SPC here.

Allopurinol FAQs

• Can I take Allopurinol with pain killers?

  Yes allopurinol can be taken alongside over the counter pain killers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. Colchicine and diclofenac are commonly prescribed for gout attacks.

• Can I take Allopurinol while pregnant?

  It is not recommended to be taken while pregnant as there are few studies around the effects of allopurinol during pregnancy. Contact your doctor for more advice on how you manage gout during pregnancy.

• Can I take Allopurinol while breastfeeding?

  While it be safe to take during breasfeeding, a tiny amount can still pass through breast milk into your child. It is unlikely to have any effect, but if you notice any change in you babys behaviour such as not feeding as well as usual, is unusually sleepy or you have any concerns contact your doctor or health visitor.

• Can I drive while using Allopurinol?

  It is unlikely to affect your ability to drive but in a small amount of people it can make them drowsy. Always check to see how allopruinol affects you before you drive or operate machinery. If it does make you drowsy do not drive or operate machinery.

• Can Allopurinol be bought over the counter?

  No allopurinol requires a prescription from a prescriber.

• Are there any long term effects of taking allopurinol?

  Allopurinol tablets are safe to take long term and some people may take them for the rest of their

• Is it safe to buy Allopurinol from your pharmacy?

  We are a General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registered pharmacy and we source all our pharmaceutical products from reputable wholesalers, the same wholesalers that provide the medicines used to fill NHS prescriptions.
  If you buy them from an unregistered pharmacy you may be wasting your money at best or at worse harm yourself buying and taking fake tablets. Always check to make sure where you are buying them from are registered with the GPhC.

• Do Allopurinol tablets expire?

  Yes, like most medicines it has a shelf life and will become less effective if it is left unused. Always check the expiry date of any medicines you are taking before you take them, the expiry date refers the end of the month. If you find your medication has expired, you can post them to us, bring them to us or take them to your nearest pharmacy for safe disposal.

• How should I store Allopurinol?

  They should be stored in a dry area below 30°C and kept out of direct sunlight. Storing the tablets incorrectly could result in the tablets becoming less effective.

• How long does it take for Allopurinol to work?

  It may take a few weeks to a few months for the full effect to be seen. Continue taking your medication for at least a few months before going back to your doctor.

• Can I drink alcohol while taking Allopurinol?

  Alcohol should be avoided or limited, it will not interact with the Allopuronol but can increase the chance of gout attacks.