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Hi there,
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I was diagnosed with gout about five years ago (had been having odd pains for a couple years beforehand), and managed to get by with the occasional NSAIDs and colchicine when I flared up. I'm 37, and other than my relative youth fairly typical for a gout patient. Big guy, former enthusiastic beer drinker, love feasting, etc.?
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This year, it got worse, and I decided to start urate lowering therapy. I went to the doctor, who prescribed me allopurinol, starting me off on 100mg pending another UA test. I was happy to start it up, thinking this would be the answer to my problems.?
However, the first day after I took it I felt odd. A little spacey, had difficulty concentrating, and slight anxiety. No other symptoms I could put my finger on, but the feeling was not very comfortable. I figured I just needed some time to get used to it, so stuck with it for a couple weeks. The problem is, it just didn't get better. I started feeling really strange, particularly when I exerted myself. I also noticed myself making some unusual mistakes driving, which alarmed me (I almost hit a pedestrian at one point — I just didn't notice him).?
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I decided I should stop for a couple days to see if it would make a difference. I did, and I felt better within 24 hours. Now, I am taking the drug every couple days to see if I can ease myself up to a daily dose, but every time I take it I get the same feeling the next day, lasting until it wears off in the evening.?
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Has anyone else here experienced discomfort on the drug? If so, what was the ultimate choice you made? Does it simply take a long time to desensitize oneself? I'd like nothing better than for allopuriunol to work for me, but I don't know whether I want to live with these side effects, which are, if not debilitating, fairly uncomfortable.?
I never had a problem with allopurinol?started with a 400 mg. dose.
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If I were in your shoes, I would take a 300 mg. dose for a day or two, or three?which is most likely where you would wind up, and see what it does. If the uncomfortable feelings and the brain fog come back with the drug, I would consider a different anti-gout drug.
I doubt that you will “desensitize” if it truly is a drug reaction.
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Watch out for hives, swollen lips or eyelids, thickening tongue?signs of a DANGEROUS reaction. Get to a doctor immediately.
Don't be hypervigilant though?you don't want to discontinue the cheaperst, most effective anti-gout med on a whim.?Usually if we ask ourselves “Do I feel strange” the answer is a YES. You must admit, it is a very vague symtom.
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?Your other realistic choices are probenecid (cheap) and Uloric (preposterously expensive.)
People experience different initial side effects with Allo on a very broad scale: from zero to allergic rash. I vaguely remember feeling a bit tired and spacey for a couple of days, then nothing since. My guess is your metabolism is just taking a bit longer to adjust. Most people who experience s/e are OK after a month or so. By taking it less often than you should, you are probably prolonging this adjustment phase & certainly lessening the effectiveness of the drug, which may make you more prone to flares (especially if you're on a low initial dose e.g.100 mg).
My advice would be to bite the bullet & stick with it, making any necessary allowances to your activities such as less driving, having a nap if you feel tired etc. Maybe more coffee to speed up your metabolism? I'm sure it will soon pass. If not, (after a couple of months, say) have a word with your Dr and maybe think about tests for a different condition: aenemia, diabetes…but unlikely I reckon.
Hi Bill,?
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I have been on Allopurinol for exactly 7 days today, taking the 300mg dose, im 34 and so far initially i ?noticed some tiredness but put that down to system adjusting, I thought i had some weird eye discomfort but that resolved after 2 days and was probably the fact i was up late playing modern warfare 3 and not the allopurinol.?
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only bad side effect so far, which of course is debatable is that its given me a minor flare up of gout, but this is expected to a certain degree so I can safely say that no side effects felt so far, will get my bloods done later this week hopefully and get checked for my liver function to make sure nothing is getting messed up there, but no so far nothing major, when I got the weird thing in my eye i did consider stopping it but glad i didnt now as it was just paranoia more than anything.?
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hope that helps, allopurinol hasnt yet cured me, but i know it will given time to work.?
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imi
Thanks for the replies — they are very much appreciated.?
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I think I might just be a bit of a weenie where all this is concerned — I have always been highly imaginative, and that extends to physical ailments. I'm going to stick it out, and the reassurance has been quite helpful.?
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However, in my line of work, being mentally alert (if not always entirely rational) is pretty important, so I'll be keeping a close eye on the effects, and I'll make reports if anything notable occurs. It's been quite relieving to see that many of the men posting here seem to be doing fine on the allopurinol. My Chinese doctor was quite cautious, because there seems to be some particular gene common amongst Han Chinese that predisposes them to allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome related to the HLA B*5801 gene (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/730330_4). Very interesting finding. Could be why the Japanese put effort into developing uloric as an alternative for Asian populations, who have a much higher incidence of this gene.?
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BTW, I noticed that there is a preponderance of Englishmen on the board. Is gout a particularly common disease amongst the British, or is it simply a coincidence? As an American of overwhelmingly British ancestry I am curious about this.?
Hi all – I've just registered after battling gout without allopurinol for about 3 years with no success. I have been on 300Mg of allopurinol since January this year. I had attacks in both ankles, both knees, toes, underneath of feet and a bad one in left elbow which looked like i had an orange in their (really freaked the kids out !).
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I'm male 44 and as well as allopurinol take a cod liver oil capsule every day, cherry capsule and drink 2 litres minimum of water every day. I'm probably a stone overweight (im 5 ft 11″ and weigh about 14 stone) but am quite healthy. My gout meant that in a month of 31 days I would be pain free for only about 10 days. For the first 3 months along with the allopurinol my doctor prescribed me naproxen twice a day. Then I took it as and when needed (I could sort of tell when I was going to get a flare up). I have been pain free now since around?July 1st and no longer take the naproxen (still have it to hand though should I need it which I hope I don't as it can be quite bad on the liver).
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I still love a drink and drink on Friday night and all day Saturday – used to like dark beers but have found that Stella Artois doesn't seem to give me an attack so thats all I drink now. No booze in the week at all and I feel absolutely fantastic – I've had no side effects and doctor (and myself) are happy to continue on allopurinol.
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Used to love beef but have cut burgers totally out of my diet (was never a massive lover anyhow) and still enjoy a sunday roast joint but probably only once a month. I now eat lots of chicken, pasta, rice and have cut out processed food a lot. It is very difficult at first but once I found I could harness the gout and live like I used to (normally) which gives me a buzz and keeps me to my regime. Luckily I've always liked fresh vegetables and fruit so that must help.
Oh I also have the odd bottle of red wine probably once or twice a month and again as long as i drink the water I seem to be O.K.
I did have a little bit of a beer belly but that is all but gone – much to my wifes delight ! I suppose if i took up an excercise routine and stuck with it, I could get even fitter but for now i'm happy to stick to diet only. I also enjoy my weekend more and look forward to that cold stella artois.
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Sorry it's a long rant but I just wanted to sing my praises of allopurinol and to let people know to stick with it. It does get better.
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