Aloprim

Aloprim is used to prevent or treat high uric acid levels in the blood that may be caused by cancer medications. 

Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that works by causing less uric acid to be produced by the body. This medication is to be given only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

This product is available in the following forms:

• Powder for solution

As with all medicines, the risks of using Aloprim must be compared to how much this medication will help you. This is a decision that you and your doctor will make together.

For this medication, there are many things that need to be considered:

• Allergies: Inform your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Doxorubicin or to any other medications. It is also important to inform your doctor of any non-medicine allergies such as foods, dyes, preservatives or animals. 
• Pediatric: Up-to-date pediatric appropriate studies have not indicated any problems that would limit the use of this medication.
• Geriatric: No appropriate studies have been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of this medication in elderly patients, but no geriatric-specific problems have been documented. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney or heart problems, which may require caution.
• Pregnancy: This medication is listed as Pregnancy Category C. This means that animal studies have shown an adverse effect and no studies have been performed on pregnant women OR there are no adequate studies on pregnant animals and pregnant women.
• Breastfeeding: Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used while breastfeeding.

• Drug Interactions: Certain medications should not be used together. However, in certain cases, two medications may be used together, even if an interaction might occur. In these cases,  your doctor may want to change your dose or take other precautions.

  When taking this medication, it is important that you inform your doctor if you are taking any of the medications listed below. The following interactions were selected on the basis of potential significance and are not all-inclusive.

  Using this medication with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, or change some of the other medications you take:

  • Didanosine

    Using this medication with any of the following medication is not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. Your doctor may make the decision not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medications you take:

  • Azathioprine
  • Captopril
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Enalapril
  • Enalaprilat
  • Fluorouracil
  • Mercaptopurine
  • Pegloticase

  • Tegafur

    Using this medication with any of the following medications may increase your risk of side effects. However, using both medications may be the best treatment for you.
    If both medications are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you take one or both medications:
    • Cyclosporine
    • Phenprocoumon
    • Vidarabine
    • Warfarin
• Other Interactions: Certain medications should not be used while eating, or while eating certain foods in case of negative interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medications may also cause negative interactions. Talk with your doctor about the use of your medication with food, alcohol or tobacco.
• Other Medical Problems: Pre-existing medical problems may affect the use of this medication. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially: 
  • Bone marrow problems
  • Liver disease - Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Kidney Disease - Use with caution. The effects of this medication may be increased because of slower removal of the medication from the body.

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you Aloprim. This medication is given through a needle placed in one of your veins (intravenously).

Drink plenty of liquids while receiving this medication to help prevent kidney stones. Ask your doctor about the amount of liquid you should drink each day.

It is very important that your doctor checks in with you often while you are receiving Aloprim to make sure that it is working properly. Do not take other prescription or over-the-counter medications without asking your doctor.

If you develop a skin rash, hives, swelling of the lips or mouth or any allergic reaction to this medication, inform your doctor immediately.

Inform your doctor if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stool, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual fatigue or weakness or yellow eyes or skin (jaundice). These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medication may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than normal. This is more likely to happen when you begin taking this medication, or when you increase the dosage. 

Make sure you know how you react to this medication before driving, using machinery or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.

Aloprim may produce unwanted affects along with the intended effects. Although not all of these side-effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side-effects:

Less Common

• Agitation
• Coma
• Confusion
• Decreased urine output
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Hostility
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Muscle twitching
• Nausea
• Rapid weight gain
• Seizures
• Stupor
• Swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
• Unusual fatigue or weakness

Rare

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Black, tarry stools
• Bladder pain
• Bleeding gums
• Blood in the urine or stools
• Blurred vision
• Changes in skin color
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Clay-colored stools
• Cloudy urine
• Cough or hoarseness
• Coughing up blood
• Dark urine
• Difficult, burning, or painful urination
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Difficulty speaking
• Dilated neck veins
• Dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
• Double vision
• Enlarged abdomen or stomach
• Extreme fatigue
• Fainting (syncope)
• Fast or slow heartbeat (tachycardia, bradycardia)
• Feeling of warmth
• Fever
• Frequent urge to urinate (polyuria)
• Inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
• Inability to speak
• Increased menstrual flow or vaginal bleeding
• Increased sweating
• Irregular breathing
• Irregular heartbeat (arrythmias)
• Itching
• Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
• Lightheadedness
• Loosening of the fingernails
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of strength or energy
• Lower back or side pain
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Nosebleeds
• Numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
• Pain
• Pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
• Paralysis
• Pinpoint red spots on the skin
• Prolonged bleeding from cuts
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Rash
• Red or black, tarry stools
• Red or dark brown urine
• Redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
• Shortness of breath
• Slow speech
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• Sudden shortness of breath or troubled breathing
• Swelling of the fingers, feet, or lower legs
• Swollen glands
• Tightness in the chest
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual sweating
• Vomiting of blood
• Weight gain
• Wheezing
• Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)

Some side effects that may occur do not normally need medical attention. These may leave as your body becomes accustomed to treatment. 

Ask your doctor about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Talk to your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome, or if you have questions:

Less Common/Rare

• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Indigestion
• Stomach pain
• Unusual hair loss

Rare

• Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
• Body aches or pain
• Congestion
• Cracked lips
• Difficulty moving
• Hair loss or thinning of the hair
• Hives or welts
• Itching, pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth on the skin
• Muscle stiffness
• Redness of the skin
• Runny nose
• Voice changes

Some patients may experience other side effects that are not listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any other side effects.

Ask your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.