I have been using allopurinol for more than 15 years with only occasional gout flares in my left knee and most recently in my right hand. My latest Uric acid id 5.6 . The doctor I saw today told me it was important to STOP taking the allopurinol during a gout flare-up. I have never been told this before and it seems strange that this has never been mentioned. Anybody else ever been instructed to do the same? or different?