Lybrate Logo
Get the App
For Doctors
Login/Sign-up
tab_logos
About
tab_logos
Feed
Overview

Febuxostat

Prescription vs OTC : Prescription by Doctor required

About Febuxostat

Febuxostat is used for decreasing the symptoms of gouty arthritis. It belongs to the group of medications called xanthine oxidase inhibitors. The medicine works by decreasing the level of uric acid by blocking the xanthine oxidase enzyme.

This enzymeis responsible for helping the body to make uric acid from xanthine. When there are high levels of uric acid in the blood, it can lead to gout and the symptoms associated with it.

Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. The medicine can pass on to the baby through breast milk. Also, your doctor must be informed before being prescribed this medication, if you ever had a-

  • Medical history of cancer
  • Liver disease
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Organ transplantation
  • stroke

Dosage of the medication depends on your age, the condition for which you are being treated and it’s severity, your medical history, and reaction to the first dose. It is available in tablet form to be taken orally. You can have the medicine with or without food. Usually, it is taken once a day but follow your doctor’s instructions regarding the dosage.

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    What are the uses of Febuxostat

    • Gouty Arthritis

    • Increased Uric Acid Level In Blood

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    What are the contraindications of Febuxostat ?

    • Hypersensitivity

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    What are the side effects of Febuxostat ?

    • Itching Or Rash

    • Headache

    • Diarrhoea

    • Liver Damage

    • Oedema

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    Key highlights of Febuxostat

    • How long is the duration of effect?

      The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 15 to 24 hours.

    • What is the onset of action?

      The peak effect of this medicine can be observed in 1 to 1.5 hours.

    • Are there any pregnancy warnings?

      This medicine is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary.

    • Is it habit forming?

      No habit forming tendencies were reported.

    • Are there any breast-feeding warnings?

      No clear data is available about the presence of this medicine in the human breast milk.

    • Does this affect kidney function?

      Caution must be taken in patient with kidney disease. Adjustment of dose might be needed. Kindly consult your doctor before taking this medication.

    • Does this affect liver function?

      Caution must be taken in patient with liver disease. Adjustment of dose might be needed. Kindly consult your doctor before taking this medication.

    • Is It safe with alcohol?

      Caution must be taken while consuming alcohol with this medication. Kindly consult your doctor for more details.

    • Is it safe to drive while on this medicine?

      This medication may cause side effects that might affect the alertness of the patient. Thus driving should be avoided if any of the side effect occurs.

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    What are the dosage instructions?

    • Missed Dose instructions

      Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next scheduled dose then the missed dose should be skipped.

    • Are there any overdose instructions?

      Contact a doctor immediately if an overdose is suspected. Symptoms of overdose may include a change in pulse rates, severe drowsiness, confusion, vomiting, hallucinations, convulsions, and fainting. Immediate medical intervention may be required if the overdose symptoms are severe.

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    Where is the Febuxostat approved?

    • India

    • United States

    • Japan

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    Medicines containing Febuxostat

    Below is the list of medicines, which contains Febuxostat as ingredient

    Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

    How does this medication work?

    This medication belongs to the class xanthine oxidase inhibitor. It works by inhibiting the xanthine oxidase enzyme thus inhibits the conversion of hypoxanthine to xanthine to uric acid without affecting the enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine synthesis.

      Information given here is based on the salt content of the medicine. Uses and effects of the medicine may vary from person to person. It is advisable to consult a Rheumatologist before using this medicine.

      What are the interactions of Febuxostat ?

      Whenever you take more than one medicine, or mix it with certain foods or beverages, you"re at risk of a drug interaction.

        test
      • Interaction with Alcohol

        Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
      • Interaction with Medicine

        Azathioprine

        This medication is known to increase the levels of azathioprine and can cause serious effects. Inform the doctor if you are receiving these medications. An alternate medicine should be considered based on the clinical condition.

        Theophylline

        This medication is known to increase the levels of theophylline and can cause serious effects. Inform the doctor if you are receiving these medications. Required dose adjustments or an alternate medicine should be considered based on the clinical condition.
      • Interaction with Disease

        Secondary Hyperuricemia

        This medicine is not recommended in the patients with malignant disease, tumor lysis syndrome or Lesch-Nyhan syndrome where uric acid levels are highly elevated.

      FAQs about Febuxostat

      • Ques : What is Febuxostat?

        Ans : This medication is helpful in decreasing the symptoms of gouty arthritis.

      • Ques : What is Febuxostat used for?

        Ans : It is used to treat symptoms like swelling, pain, soreness, redness and stiffness in certain joints of the body associated with gout or arthritis.

      • Ques : How long do I need to use Febuxostat before I see improvement in my condition?

        Ans : This medication is to be taken till the time you see an improvement in your health conditions.

      • Ques : At what frequency do I need to use Febuxostat?

        Ans : This medication should be taken in the dosage as prescribed by the doctor.

      • Ques : Should I use Febuxostat empty stomach, before food or after food?

        Ans : You can have the medicine with food or without it. Usually, it is taken once a day but follow your doctor’s instructions regarding the dosage.

      • Ques : What are the instructions for the storage and disposal of Febuxostat?

        Ans : This medication should be kept in a cool dry place and in its original packaging. Make sure this medication remains unreachable to children and pets.

      • Ques : What are the side effects of Febuxostat?

        Ans : This drug can cause quite a few side effects like diarrhea, headache, rash, nausea, heart problems, gout flares, liver problems, and severe skin and allergic reactions.

      • Ques : How long should I take Febuxostat?

        Ans : It should be taken for duration which is prescribed by the doctor as duration usually varies from person to person and also depends on the medical condition.

      • Ques : Is Febuxostat better than allopurinol?

        Ans : Research and trials on humans have revealed that Febuxostat is better than allopurinol for decreasing the uric acid levels.

      • Ques : What is the best time to take Febuxostat?

        Ans : You must consult a doctor to know the timings, however, one must prefer taking it the same time everyday.

      • Ques : Can Febuxostat cause kidney damage?

        Ans : Febuxostat can cause problems related to kidneys which may lead to conditions of blood in the urine, frequent urination and kidney stones. Consult a doctor if you are facing such symptoms.

      • Ques : Can I stop taking Febuxostat on my own if I am fine and have no pain or swelling in joints?

        Ans : Do not stop taking this drug without consulting a doctor as the symptoms can occur if the course of treatment is not completed.

      • Ques : What are the things which I need to know while taking Febuxostat?

        Ans : Febuxostat can cause some problems related to heart and related symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, dizziness, fainting or feeling light-headed, rapid or irregular heartbeat. Hence, consult a doctor if you encounter these symptoms.

      • Ques : Can Febuxostat cause any liver problems?

        Ans : The use of this drug may also lead to liver problems, hence blood tests should be done regularly during the course of treatment.

      References

      • Febuxostat- Drug Information Portal [Internet]. druginfo.nlm.nih.gov. 2019 [Cited 16 December 2019]. Available from:

        https://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/name/febuxostat

      • Febuxostat- DrugBank [Internet]. Drugbank.ca. 2019 [Cited 16 December 2019]. Available from:

        https://www.drugbank.ca/drugs/DB04854

      • ULORIC- febuxostat tablet- Daily Med [Internet]. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2019. [Cited 16 December 2019]. Available from:

        https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=54de10ef-fe5f-4930-b91d-6bbb04c664bd

      Disclaimer : The information produced here is best of our knowledge and experience and we have tried our best to make it as accurate and up-to-date as possible, but we would like to request that it should not be treated as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.

      Lybrate is a medium to provide our audience with the common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. Even if there is no mention of a warning for any drug or combination, it never means that we are claiming that the drug or combination is safe for consumption without any proper consultation with an expert.

      Lybrate does not take responsibility for any aspect of medicines or treatments. If you have any doubts about your medication, we strongly recommend you to see a doctor immediately.
      swan-banner
      Sponsored

      Popular Questions & Answers

      View All

      Does the pohpi on my joints can be remove by ta...

      related_content_doctor

      Dr. N C Gupta

      Orthopedist

      Fresh tophi can be reduced or even removed by medicines.in other cases surgery may have to be und...

      Can febuxostat and thyronorm be taken before an...

      related_content_doctor

      Dr. Nidhi Kishor

      General Physician

      Dear lybrate-user there is no contraindications of these medications while taking covid vaccine. ...

      I am using oleanz 0.5 mg.it is causing weight g...

      related_content_doctor

      Dr. Swarnshikha Sharma

      Dietitian/Nutritionist

      For weight reduction, it’s always good to follow a healthy n natural process. It’s a natural ...

      Can I use indocap sr and febuxostat for gout tr...

      related_content_doctor

      Dr. Rajesh Jain

      Endocrinologist

      Tab febuxostat can be taken regularly but indocap cannot be taken regularly as it may cause renal...

      Hi Sir, Taking febuxostat 80 mg daily as per do...

      related_content_doctor

      Dr. Sajeev Kumar

      Cardiologist

      Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the be...

      Table of content

      Content Details
      Profile Image
      Written ByDrx Hina FirdousPhD (Pharmacology) Pursuing, M.Pharma (Pharmacology), B.Pharma - Certificate in Nutrition and Child CarePharmacology
      Reviewed By
      Profile Image
      Reviewed ByDr. Garima SharmaMBBS, Master in Healthcare Administration, Diploma in Occupational HealthGeneral Physician
      chat_icon

      Ask a free question

      Get FREE multiple opinions from Doctors

      posted anonymously
      swan-banner