Understanding Allopurinol

Precautions

Doctors must make sure that this medication is safe for their patients! Thus, patients need to inform them about their complete medical history. Items of note include a history of kidney or liver disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. A history of congestive heart failure also matters! Patients dealing with these conditions often find that allopurinol is not safe for them. Doctors need to know when patients are getting chemotherapy or are pregnant or breastfeeding before prescribing this medication. Individuals cannot drink alcohol on this medication due to side effects. They also have to avoid driving, as this medication impacts their reaction time. Patients also need to avoid activities that require increased alertness as well!

Patients are at an increased risk of bleeding when they are injured on this medication. This is because it causes a decreased white blood cell count in some patients! A low white blood cell count also means more infections. Thus, regular blood tests and doctor's appointments are necessary! Thankfully, patients can choose to take this medication with or without food. However, they need to do so with a full glass of water. This lowers their risk of kidney stones! Ideally, patients need to drink sixty-four to eighty ounces of water daily.

Discover the medication interactions next.