Drug Interaction Report

Allopurinol may cause sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired driving ability. The risk and/or severity may be increased when combined with alcohol or other medications that can also cause sedation. Let your doctor know prior to receiving allopurinol if you are currently using alcohol or receiving treatment with cenobamate, as you may be more likely to experience sedation-related side effects. Do not drive, operate machinery, or engage in potentially hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until the sedative effects have gone away and you know how these medications affect you. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Allopurinol should generally be taken after a meal to reduce side effects. If your daily dose exceeds 300 mg, you may also ask your healthcare provider if it is okay to divide the total daily dose into smaller doses given more frequently instead of once a day, as this may also reduce stomach upset that can happen with allopurinol. It is best to avoid or limit the consumption of alcohol, as it can increase drowsiness or other nervous system side effects of allopurinol. You should also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.