Sulfinpyrazone

Sulfinpyrazone is used in the treatment of chronic gout (gouty arthritis), which is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. The medicine works by removing the extra uric acid from the body.

Sulfinpyrazone does not cure gout, but after you have been taking it for a few months it may help prevent gout attacks. This medicine will help prevent gout attacks only as long as you continue to take it.

Sulfinpyrazone is sometimes used to prevent or treat other medical problems that may occur if too much uric acid is present in the body. Sulfinpyrazone may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Sulfinpyrazone is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Capsule
• Tablet

Before using Sulfinpyrazone, you must know all about the risks and complications associated with it. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. 

For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric Population: Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing the use of sulfinpyrazone in children with use in other age groups.

Geriatric Population: Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of sulfinpyrazone in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Breastfeeding: There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions: Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose or other precautions may be necessary.

When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Alipogene Tiparvovec
• Alteplase, Recombinant
• Anagrelide
• Apixaban
• Ardeparin
• Argatroban
• Bivalirudin
• Certoparin
• Cilostazol
• Cyclosporine
• Dabigatran Etexilate
• Dalteparin
• Danaparoid
• Desirudin
• Desvenlafaxine
• Dicumarol
• Dipyridamole
• Duloxetine
• Edoxaban
• Enoxaparin
• Eptifibatide
• Fluoxetine
• Fondaparinux
• Heparin
• Lepirudin
• Levomilnacipran
• Milnacipran
• Nadroparin
• Parnaparin
• Pegloticase
• Phenindione
• Phenprocoumon
• Protein C
• Reviparin
• Rivaroxaban
• Tinzaparin
• Venlafaxine
• Vilazodone
• Vortioxetine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Anisindione
• Bismuth Subsalicylate
• Salsalate
• Warfarin

Other Interactions: Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems: The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.

Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood disease (or history of) 
• Cancer being treated by antineoplastics (cancer medicine) or radiation (x-rays) 
• Kidney stones (or history of) or other kidney disease 
• Stomach ulcer or other stomach or intestinal problems (or history of)—The chance of serious side effects may be increased; also, sulfinpyrazone may not work properly for treating gout if some kinds of kidney disease are present

To use Sulfinpyrazone properly, you must follow all instructions given by your doctor. If sulfinpyrazone upsets your stomach, it may be taken with food. If this does not work, an antacid may be taken.

If stomach upset (nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain) continues, check with your doctor. In order for sulfinpyrazone to help you, it must be taken regularly as ordered by your doctor.

When you first begin taking sulfinpyrazone, the amount of uric acid in the kidneys is greatly increased. This may cause kidney stones in some people.

To help prevent this, your doctor may want you to drink at least 10 to 12 full glasses (8 ounces each) of fluids each day or to take another medicine to make your urine less acid. It is important that you follow your doctor's instructions very carefully.

For patients taking sulfinpyrazone for gout:

• After you begin to take sulfinpyrazone, gout attacks may continue to occur for a while. However, if you take this medicine regularly as directed by your doctor, the attacks will gradually become less frequent and less painful. After you have been taking sulfinpyrazone for several months, they may stop completely.

• Sulfinpyrazone helps to prevent gout attacks. It will not relieve an attack that has already started. Even if you take another medicine for gout attacks, continue to take this medicine also.

Dosing: The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For treating gout or removing uric acid from the body:

• Adults: The starting dose of sulfinpyrazone is usually 100 mg or 200 mg a day (one-half of a 100-mg tablet two times a day, one 100-mg tablet one or two times a day, or one 200-mg capsule or tablet once a day). Then, the dose is usually increased by 100 mg or 200 mg every few days, up to 800 mg a day. Starting with a low dose and increasing the dose gradually helps prevent kidney stones and other side effects. After a while, the dose may be changed again, depending on the amount of uric acid in your blood or urine.

• Children: It is not likely that sulfinpyrazone will be needed to treat gout or remove uric acid from the body in children. However, if a child needs this medicine, the dose would have to be determined by the doctor.

Missed Dose: If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage: Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Before using Sulfinpyrazone, there are some precautions you must take. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine does not cause unwanted effects.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the person in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by sulfinpyrazone.

For patients taking sulfinpyrazone for gout or to help remove uric acid from the body:

Taking aspirin or other salicylates may lessen the effects of sulfinpyrazone. This will depend on the dose of aspirin or another salicylate that you take, and on how often you take it.

Also, drinking too much alcohol may increase the amount of uric acid in the blood and lessen the effects of sulfinpyrazone.

Therefore, do not take aspirin or other salicylates or drink alcoholic beverages while taking this medicine, unless you have first checked with your doctor.

As with many medications, there are several potential side effects associated with Sulfinpyrazone. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.