Zyloprim Side Effects

Generic name: allopurinol

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 3, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Zyloprim Side Effects associated with allopurinol. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Zyloprim.

Applies to allopurinol: oral tablet.

Other dosage forms:

• intravenous powder for solution

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Serious skin reactions can occur with this medicine, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

When you start using this medicine, you may have more gout attacks. Keep using the medicine even if this happens. Your doctor may give you other medicines (eg, colchicine, pain medicines [NSAIDs]) to help prevent the gout attacks.

This medicine may cause serious kidney problem. Check with your doctor right away if you have blood in the urine, change in frequency of urination or amount of urine, difficulty in breathing, drowsiness, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, swelling of the feet or lower legs, or weakness.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have stomach pain or tenderness, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine lowers the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Because of this, you may bleed or get infections more easily. To help with these problems, avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Wash your hands often. Stay away from rough sports or other situations where you could be bruised, cut, or injured. Brush and floss your teeth gently. Be careful when using sharp objects, including razors and fingernail clippers.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy, dizzy, or less alert than they are normally. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of Zyloprim

Along with its needed effects, allopurinol (the active ingredient contained in Zyloprim) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking allopurinol:

Other side effects of Zyloprim

Some side effects of allopurinol 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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to allopurinol: intravenous powder for injection, oral tablet.

General adverse events

The most common adverse reaction was skin rash, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, renal failure or insufficiency and increase in liver function tests.^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angina pectoris, bradycardia, hypertension
• Frequency not reported: Heart failure, cardiorespiratory arrest, hypotension, decreased venous pressure, flushing, chest pain, cardiovascular disorder, ECG abnormality, thrombophlebitis, ventricular fibrillation, necrotizing angiitis, vasculitis, pericarditis, peripheral vascular disease, vasodilation^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Rash
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Furuncle, angioedema, drug eruption, alopecia, discolored hair
• Frequency not reported: Cellulitis, urticaria, pruritus, ecchymosis, diaphoresis, maculopapular rash, erythema multiforme exudativum, purpura, vasculitis hypersensitivity, vesicular bullous dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis, eczematoid dermatitis, onycholysis, lichen planus (lichenoid drug reaction), furunculosis, facial edema, sweating, skin edema^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Blood thyroid stimulating hormone increased
• Frequency not reported: Gynecomastia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Diarrhea
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hematemesis, steatorrhea, stomatitis, changed bowel habit
• Frequency not reported: Severe diarrhea, enlarged abdomen, gastrointestinal bleeding, flatulence, constipation, proctitis, intermittent abdominal pain, gastritis, dyspepsia, hemorrhagic pancreatitis, salivary gland swelling, tongue edema^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, granulocytopenia
• Frequency not reported: Eosinophilia, hemorrhage, splenomegaly, leukopenia, marrow aplasia, eosinophilia, neutropenia, anemia, pancytopenia, bone marrow suppression, disseminated intravascular coagulation, leukocytosis, eosinophilic fibrohistiocytic lesion of bone marrow, prothrombin decrease, hemolytic anemia, reticulocytosis, lymphadenopathy, lymphocytosis^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abnormal liver function test
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hepatitis (including hepatic necrosis and granulomatous hepatitis), hepatic dysfunction
• Frequency not reported: Hyperbilirubinemia, hepatomegaly, intestinal obstruction, jaundice, liver failure, AST, or ALT increase, cholestatic jaundice^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Common (1% to 10%): Allergic adverse reactions
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypersensitivity reactions
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Anaphylactic reaction^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Injection site reaction^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia
• Frequency not reported: Hypervolemia, hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypokalemia, hyperuricemia, electrolyte abnormality, hypercalcemia, hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, lactic acidosis, water intoxication, hypomagnesemia, tumor lysis syndrome, acute attacks of gout, anorexia^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Twitching, arthralgia, myopathy, myalgia^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Coma, paralysis, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, paraesthesia, somnolence, headache, dysgeusia, epilepsy
• Frequency not reported: Generalized seizure, stroke, status epilepticus, myoclonus, cerebral infarction, dystonia, tremor, hypotonia, neuritis, dizziness, vertigo, optic neuritis, foot drop, amnesia, tinnitus, taste loss or perversion, aseptic meningitis^[Ref]

Ocular

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Cataracts, visual impairment, maculopathy
• Frequency not reported: Macular retinitis, iritis, conjunctivitis, amblyopia, macular changes^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
• Frequency not reported: Blast crisis^[Ref]

Other

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Infertility (male), edema, malaise, asthenia, pyrexia
• Frequency not reported: Pain, chills, infection, sepsis, mucositis or pharyngitis, septic shock, increased alkaline phosphatase, nocturnal emission^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Depression, erectile dysfunction
• Frequency not reported: Agitation, mental status changes, confusion, decreased libido, insomnia^[Ref]

Renal

• Common (1% to 10%): Renal failure or insufficiency, hematuria, increased creatinine, oliguria, kidney function abnormality, urinary tract infection, glycosuria
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Azotemia
• Frequency not reported: Uremia, nephritis, interstitial nephritis, albuminuria^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Pulmonary embolus, respiratory failure or insufficiency, acute respiratory distress syndrome, increased respiration rate, apnea, epistaxis, bronchospasm, asthma, pharyngitis, rhinitis^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Zyloprim side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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