Febuxostat to prevent gout attacks

About febuxostat

Goutte provoque des crises d'inflammation douloureuse dans une ou plusieurs de vos articulations. Elle est causée par une accumulation d'une substance chimique naturellement présente dans votre sang, appelée acide urique (urate). De temps en temps, le niveau d'acide urique dans votre sang peut devenir trop élevé et de minuscules cristaux semblables à du gravier peuvent se former, qui se collectent généralement dans vos articulations et tendons. Les cristaux irritent les tissus de l'articulation, provoquant inflammation, gonflement et douleur.

If you have had a number of gout attacks, your doctor may advise that you take a medicine known as a xanthine-oxidase inhibitor to help prevent more attacks from occurring. There are two of these types of medicines currently available - allopurinol and febuxostat. You will have been prescribed febuxostat if allopurinol is unsuitable for you. Febuxostat helps to prevent gout attacks by reducing the levels of uric acid in your blood. However, it does not have any painkilling effect during a gout attack, so you will still need to take pain relief should you have any further attacks. In this case, your doctor will prescribe either an analgésique anti-inflammatoire ou colchicine for you to take alongside febuxostat.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking febuxostat it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si vous êtes enceinte ou si vous allaitez.

• If you have a heart condition, such as heart disease or heart failure.

• If you have ever had a heart attack (MI) or a stroke.

• If you have any problems with your thyroid gland, liver or kidneys.

• If you have had an organ transplant. (This is because no studies have been done with this group of people.)

• Si vous prenez ou utilisez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments que vous prenez et qui sont disponibles à l'achat sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et complémentaires.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about febuxostat and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• If you have recently had a gout attack, make sure your symptoms have completely gone before you start taking febuxostat tablets.

• Take febuxostat exactly as your doctor tells you to. Take one tablet each day.

• There are two strengths of tablet - 80 mg and 120 mg. When starting the treatment, your doctor will give you 80 mg strength tablets. The strength of the tablet may be increased after 2-4 weeks to 120 mg, if this is necessary. Your dose will be adjusted in line with how much uric acid is in your blood.

• You can take febuxostat at whatever time of day you find easiest to remember, although most people choose to take it in a morning. Try to take your doses at the same time of day each day, as this will help you to take it regularly. You can take the tablet either before or after meals.

• Si vous oubliez de prendre une dose, prenez-la dès que vous vous en souvenez. Si vous ne vous en souvenez que le lendemain, sautez la dose oubliée. Ne prenez pas deux doses en même temps pour compenser une dose manquée.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. Your doctor will want you to have a blood test to check that the level of uric acid has come down. This is often done two weeks or so after starting febuxostat. You will also need to have blood tests from time to time to check that your liver stays healthy.

• Remember, febuxostat should be taken every day to prevent a gout attack. It can take six months to become fully effective. It does not have any effect during a gout attack, although you should continue to take it regularly every day even if this happens.

• During the first few months of taking febuxostat, your blood levels of uric acid may rise for a short while before they fall. This can cause a gout attack. Your doctor will prescribe an anti-inflammatory treatment or colchicine tablets for you to take alongside febuxostat during this time.

• Treatment with febuxostat is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise by a doctor.

• Il existe plusieurs changements de mode de vie que vous pouvez adopter pour réduire le risque d'une crise de goutte. Ceux-ci incluent la perte de poids (si vous êtes en surpoids), une alimentation saine et la réduction de la consommation d'alcool ou de boissons gazeuses sucrées. Votre médecin vous conseillera sur les changements qui pourraient vous être bénéfiques.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with febuxostat. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes que vous pensez être dus aux comprimés, parlez-en à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien pour obtenir des conseils supplémentaires.

• Gardez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.