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Febuxostat

Information about Febuxostat

Febuxostat uses

Febuxostat is used in the treatment of gout
It is a long-term treatment to lower blood uric acid levels and to prevent gout attacks.

How febuxostat works

Febuxostat blocks the enzyme xanthine oxidase involved in the synthesis of uric acid and hence lowers the blood uric acid levels.

Common side effects of febuxostat

Skin rash, Headache, Nausea, Edema, Increased liver enzymes, Diarrhoea.

Available Medicine for Febuxostat

FEBUTAZ
₹85 to ₹151
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
3 variant(s)
FEBUSTAT
₹112 to ₹176
Abbott India Ltd
2 variant(s)
FEBURIC
₹64 to ₹161
Ajanta Pharma Ltd
3 variant(s)
FEBUGET
₹90 to ₹151
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
2 variant(s)
FURIC
₹97 to ₹168
Lupin Ltd
2 variant(s)
ZURIG
₹256 to ₹480
Zydus Cadila
2 variant(s)
FOXSTAT
₹84 to ₹132
Franco-Indian Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
2 variant(s)
UBEXA
₹92 to ₹175
Lupin Ltd
2 variant(s)
FEBUMAC
₹90 to ₹140
Macleods Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd
2 variant(s)
FBX
₹85 to ₹145
Albert David Ltd
2 variant(s)

Expert advice for Febuxostat

Febuxostat is not a painkiller and it may take a few days to weeks before it starts working. You would need to take additional medicines to relieve your pain and inflammation during this time.
You may experience an increase in gouty attacks for first few weeks or months of taking Febuxostat. However, you must continue to take your medicine during these attacks.
Do not stop taking Febuxostat at once or without talking to your doctor as this may make your gout worse.
Drink lots of water or fluids while taking Febuxostat to decrease the risk of kidney stone formation.
Get your liver function tests done before you start taking this medicine and whenever asked by your doctor as Febuxostat can affect your liver.
Get your blood uric acid levels checked at regular intervals.
Febuxostat can make you feel drowsy. Avoid driving, use of machinery, or any activity that requires you to be alert.

Frequently asked questions for Febuxostat

Febuxostat

Q. Can I take febuxostat with rosuvastatin?

Rosuvastatin can be taken with febuxostat. Rosuvastatin is used to lower bad cholesterol and Febuxostat is used to lower uric acid levels in patients with gout. Many patients of high cholesterol levels also have high uric acid levels. There are no human studies available on this interaction. However, animal research shows that when given together, febuxostat can increase the blood levels of Rosuvastatin causing a higher risk of its side effects like muscle pain and muscle damage. So, a dose adjustment of Rosuvastatin may be needed when given along with febuxostat.

Q. Does febuxostat cause frequent urination?

Febuxostat is not known to cause frequent urination. However, if you experience any such symptom while using the drug, consult your doctor.

Q. How does febuxostat work for the treatment of gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis in which uric acid levels are very high in the blood and they get deposited in the joints causing swelling, redness and sudden pain in these joints. Febuxostat works by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase involved in the synthesis of uric acid and hence decreases the level of uric acid in the blood.

Q. Is febuxostat a steroid?

No, febuxostat is not a steroid. It is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor and decreases the serum uric acid levels.

Q. Is febuxostat useful in lowering the triglyceride levels?

Febuxostat is not indicated for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusive evidence showing the drug lowering triglyceride levels is lacking.

Q. How long does febuxostat take to work?

After oral intake, the peak plasma concentration of febuxostat is achieved between 1 to 1.5 hours. However, it may take a few days to weeks to show its effect and you can experience gout attacks during this time. Continue to take your medicine during this time as with continuous use these attacks would decrease.

Q. How is febuxostat different from allopurinol?

Both allopurinol and febuxostat work in a similar way by lowering uric acid levels. However, as compared to allopurinol, febuxostat is seen to be more effective and faster in its action. Also, in patients taking allopurinol, a dose adjustment is needed if the patient has mild, moderate or severe renal failure while in the case of febuxostat a dose adjustment may be needed only in patients with severe renal failure.

Q. Is febuxostat over the counter?

Febuxostat is not an over the counter product. It is a prescription medicine and is available as per the doctor's advice.

Q. Is febuxostat FDA approved?

Yes, febuxostat is approved by the US-FDA for the treatment of gout.

Q. Is febuxostat safe?

Studies have shown that febuxostat is safe for long-term use. However, it should be taken only for the duration as per the doctor's advice.

Q. Can febuxostat be used for the treatment of heart failure?

Febuxostat is not indicated for the treatment of heart failure. However, high uric acid levels is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the benefit of urate-lowering therapy for cardiac diseases is being explored.

Q. Is febuxostat useful for treating chronic kidney disease?

Febuxostat is not indicated for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. However, it can be safely used in patients with mild to moderate renal failure for lowering uric acid levels. Safety of the drug in severe renal failure is not established.

Q. Can I use febuxostat for cancer?

Febuxostat is not used for the treatment of cancer. However, patients with malignant cancer when given anti-cancer drugs, experience a serious condition known as tumor lysis syndrome characterized by increased potassium, phosphate and uric acid levels in the blood due to the killing of cancer cells and this can lead to acute kidney injury, cardiac arrhythmia, and seizures. Febuxostat helps in this condition by lowering the uric acid levels and preventing further complications.

Q. Can I take febuxostat with allopurinol?

Both febuxostat and allopurinol are uric acid lowering agents and work in a similar way. So, using both the two medicines together may not be very beneficial and can increase the risk of side effects. However, there have been studies where febuxostat when used with allopurinol in patients with refractory gout, was quite effective in providing relief. So, a combined use would be best decided by your treating doctor depending on your condition.

Q. Is febuxostat useful for treating kidney stones?

Febuxostat is not indicated in the treatment of kidney stones. However, some studies show that high renal uric acid excretion may precipitate the formation of calcium stones in the kidney and hence, suggest febuxostat may have a role in the reduction of stone formation.

Q. Can I take febuxostat with colchicine?

Febuxostat can be taken with colchicine. In the initial few days of starting febuxostat, patients may experience an increase in gout attacks because of the movement of uric acid and colchicine and painkillers are given to these patients for the relief of pain and inflammation.

Q. Can I take febuxostat with azathioprine?

Febuxostat should not be taken with azathioprine. Taking both the medicines together will increase the levels of azathioprine and can cause toxicity.

Q. Can I take febuxostat with antibiotics?

Febuxostat can generally be taken safely together with antibiotics. However, interactions can occur. Talk to your doctor about the right antibiotic therapy for your condition while you are also taking febuxostat.

Q. What are the contraindications to the use of febuxostat?

Use of febuxostat is contraindicated in patients being treated with azathioprine, mercaptopurine, theophylline, and in patients who develop hypersensitivity to the drug.