What is Febuxostat (Uloric®)?
Febuxostat is a prescription medicine called a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor that is used to lower blood uric acid levels in adults with gout. Uric acid comes from substances called purines. Most purines come from within your body but they also come from food and drinks. Febuxostat works in adults with gout by stopping the body from turning purines into uric acid. Febuxostat is commonly known as Uloricâ.
How do I take it?
Febuxostat is taken once a day. Most people start with one 40mg tablet a day. It can be increased to 80 mg a day. Febuxostat can be taken with or without food. Febuxostat can be taken with antacids. Febuxostat should be kept out of the light, in temperatures between 59ºF-86ºF (15ºC-30ºC).
What about side effects?
Before beginning Febuxostat treatment, make sure you’ve told your healthcare professional about any medical problems you have. This is especially important if:
- You have liver or kidney problems
- You have a history of heart disease or stroke
- You’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- You’re breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed
Your healthcare professional may do blood tests to check your liver function while you are taking Febuxostat.
The most common side effects of Febuxostat are liver problems, nausea, gout flares, joint pain, and rash. Contact your prescriber if any of these side effects occur.
What about other medications?
When you are taking Febuxostat, it is very important that your doctors know if you are taking any other medicine. This includes prescription and non-prescription medicines as well as birth control pills, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What else should I know?
Gout may flare up when you start taking medicine (e.g., febuxostat, allopurinol, and probenecid) to lower your uric acid. This may be caused when crystals begin to dissolve in your joints as your uric acid level goes down. Your healthcare professional may tell you to take other medicines to help prevent or manage flares during initial treatment. If your healthcare professional gives you medicine to lower your uric acid, you should keep taking it, even between attacks.
