Allofine (allopurinol) is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor used to reduce levels of uric acid in the body. It is a useful treatment for gout, helps prevent and dissolve some types of kidney stones, and is sometimes used during cancer treatment when uric acid levels are at risk of becoming elevated. It may also be used in other conditions, though this is typically much less common.

Allofine can be used in all ages, though children will require doctor supervision.

What to Expect from Treatment

With the exception of cancer treatment, patients prescribed Allofine are advised to make applicable lifestyle changes to further manage uric acid levels. If adhered to, these changes can eventually be enough on their own and Allofine use may cease.

Patients taking Allofine should take care to maintain hydration, as the medication can cause dehydration.

Allofine is most commonly used to:

• Reduce the frequency and severity of gout flare-ups;
• Prevent formation of uric acid kidney stones;
• Dissolve uric acid kidney stones or kidney stones of unknown origin;
• Prevent uric acid levels from rising during certain cancer treatments.

Treatment will always be individualized; a doctor will take into account numerous personal variables, such as age, weight, other medical conditions, and so forth, before determining dosage.

Allofine is a long term treatment as far as results. It will do nothing for immediate pain; be it from a gout flare up or passing a kidney stone. Fast-acting medications, usually painkillers, can be taken as-needed along with Allofine.

Treating Gout

As mentioned above treatment is best individualized; patients are strongly encouraged to see a doctor prior to initiating treatment. Rough guidelines for otherwise healthy adults are:

• For mild gout, 200 to 300 mg per day is usually sufficient.
• For moderate to severe gout, 400 to 600 mg per day is usually effective.
• For very severe gout, 800 mg per day may be given.
• Do not exceed 800 mg per day without explicit doctor approval.

It will take one to three weeks of treatment at an effective dose before uric acid levels are stabilized and improvements begin to be noticeable. It may take several months of treatment for full effects to be realized. Treatment may continue indefinitely, but ideally lifestyle changes will be made and the medication can be discontinued.

Kidney Stones

High uric acid levels can lead to uric-acid kidney stones. Kidney stones are notoriously painful, and uric-acid stones are no exception. If high uric acid levels are detected prior to the formation of kidney stones, Allofine can prevent them from developing and spare patients a great deal of pain.

If high uric acid is detected after stones have already formed, Allofine can help dissolve them. This will, unfortunately, take some time and patients may experience some pain or discomfort in the interim.

Allofine has little effect on kidney stones that aren't composed of uric acid, but it may be tried when the stones are of unknown origin.

In otherwise healthy adults treatment typically consist of:

• The typical dose is 200 to 300 mg per day.
• Very rarely dosage will be increased up to as much as 800 mg per day.

Uric acid levels should return to normal one to three weeks after starting treatment. It may take several months or longer to fully dissolve stones.

Cancer Therapy

Uric acid levels can become elevated during cancer treatments which cause a large die-off of cells, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Allofine interrupts the process of converting cell components to uric acid, preventing the patient from developing gout, kidney stones, and other complications.

Because cancer therapy tends to be highly individualized and relatively complex, there may be considerable differences in dosage and administration of Allofine:

• Treatment with Allofine may begin 1 to 3 days prior to cancer treatment.
• Average dose in adults is 600 to 800 mg a day, but may be as low as 200 mg per day.
• Treatment may last only a few days, or may be considerably longer depending on circumstances.

Note that Allofine is known to interact with other medications commonly used to treat cancer. Do not use this product unless explicitly approved by a doctor knowledgeable of patient history.