Allopurinol is the generic name of a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that is used in the treatment of gout and other conditions in which your body may produce an excess or uric acid. Gout is a form of arthritis in which uric acid crystals deposit in the joints--often of the big toe--and cause inflammation and pain. Allopurinol is not used to treat gout attacks, but rather to help prevent such attacks by keeping the bodily uric acid levels low. It may be administered as a pill or via injection.
Severe Serious Side Effects
There are some potentially severe serious side effects of allopurinol that the Mayo Clinic lists as more common or rare. These types of side effects require emergency medical aid. Go to the emergency room nearest you if you get any of these. The more common types appear as allergic reactions such as itching, hives, sores or a rash on the skin. The rare severe serious side effects may include skin yellowing, tar-like feces, eye yellowing, lip sores that bleed, rapid weight gain, urine or feces that contain blood, abnormal tiredness, chills, a fever, abnormal weakness, pain in the muscles, abnormal bruising, nausea, abnormal bleeding, vomiting, gland swelling and pain or difficulties trying to urinate. Others may include pain in the glands, tiny red spots appearing on the skin, facial swelling, skin redness, finger swelling, skin peeling, foot swelling, burning sensations on the skin, leg swelling, skin thickening, abdominal swelling, eye irritation, lowered urine output, scaly skin, throat soreness, breathing difficulties such as wheezing, shortness of breath or chest tightness, and lip or mouth white spots, ulcers or sores.
Other Serious Side Effects
Allopurinol also may induce several other rare serious side effects. These do not require emergency medical aid, but you should talk with your physician as soon as you can if you get them. They include nosebleeds that are unexplained, fingernail loosening, lower back pain, pain in one side of the body, foot tingling or numbness, hand numbness or tingling, foot weakness or pain and hand weakness or pain.
Non-Serious Side Effects
Allopurinol has been reported to cause less common or rare temporary, non-serious side effects when you first start taking it. These include hair loss that is unusual, diarrhea, pain in the stomach, drowsiness, nausea, headaches, vomiting or indigestion.
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