Adenuric tablets (Febuxostat)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Adenuric tablets Used For?
Adenuric contains febuxostat and is used to treat gout, a type of arthritis caused by high levels of uric acid in your blood.
Primary Uses
Adenuric is used to treat long-standing high uric acid levels in the blood. When uric acid levels are too high, crystals form and deposit in your joints, causing pain, swelling, and tenderness – this condition is called gout. Adenuric helps prevent gout attacks but is not used to treat acute gout attacks that are already happening.
How It Works
Adenuric belongs to a class of drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors. It works by reducing the formation and buildup of uric acid in your blood, which helps prevent crystal formation in your joints.
Good to know: This medicine helps control your condition but does not cure it. It’s important to keep taking it even if you feel well.
How to Take Adenuric tablets
Take Adenuric exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The usual dose is either 40mg or 80mg once daily with a full glass of water.
Dosage Instructions
The usual starting dose is 40mg (half a tablet) once daily. If your blood uric acid remains high after 2 to 4 weeks, your doctor may increase the dose to 80mg (1 whole tablet) once daily. For the 40mg dose, you’ll need to break the tablet in half along the score line. Take your medicine at about the same time each day. It doesn’t matter if you take it before or after food.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. If you remember earlier, take it as soon as you remember, then go back to your normal schedule. Don’t take a double dose to make up for the missed one.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose – this may increase your chance of getting unwanted side effects.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- gout flares
- liver function abnormalities
- diarrhea
- headaches
- nausea
- dizziness
- shortness of breath
- rash
- itching
- joint or muscle pain
- pain in arms or legs
- localized swelling
- fatigue
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- chest pain or discomfort
- shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- dizziness, fainting, feeling lightheaded
- rapid or irregular heartbeat
- numbness or weakness on one side of body
- slurred speech
- sudden blurry vision
- sudden severe headache
- sudden rash, itching or hives
- swelling of face, lips, tongue or other body parts
- painful red areas, large blisters and peeling skin
- yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice)
- dark urine
- severe abdominal pain
- fever
- muscle pain, tenderness or weakness
Important Warnings
There are important safety considerations before taking Adenuric, especially if you have heart problems or certain medical conditions.
Who Should Not Take Adenuric tablets
Do not take Adenuric if you are allergic to febuxostat or any of the ingredients. Do not start Adenuric if you are having an acute gout attack and are not already taking it. Do not give to children under 18 years old.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have or have had: heart disease, heart failure, heart attack, or stroke; kidney problems; liver problems; thyroid problems; high uric acid levels due to cancer or Lesch-Nyhan syndrome; allergic reaction to allopurinol; lactose intolerance; or if you’ve had an organ transplant.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It’s not known if Adenuric may affect your developing baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, as it’s not known if the medicine passes into breast milk.
Heart Warning: Serious heart-related side effects, including heart-related death, have been observed in patients with pre-existing serious heart conditions. Seek emergency help immediately if you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, or stroke symptoms.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Adenuric and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- mercaptopurine (cancer medicine)
- azathioprine (immune system medicine)
- theophylline (asthma medicine)
- tacrolimus (immune suppression medicine)
- phenytoin (epilepsy medicine)
Alcohol & Driving
Adenuric may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings are mentioned in the prescribing information. However, discuss alcohol use with your doctor.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or operate machinery as Adenuric may cause drowsiness, dizziness, pins and needles, and blurred vision in some people. Be careful until you know how this medicine affects you.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the original pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place below 30°C, away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Don’t store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Adenuric, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if you don’t feel unwell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do not start Adenuric if you’re having an acute gout attack and aren’t already taking it. However, if you’re already taking Adenuric and have a gout flare, continue taking it – don’t stop during the attack.
Your doctor will check your blood uric acid levels after 2 to 4 weeks to see if the dose needs to be adjusted. You may experience more gout flares initially, but over time they will occur less often and be less painful if you keep taking Adenuric.
Yes, it doesn’t matter if you take Adenuric before or after food. Take it with a full glass of water.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose.
No, don’t stop taking Adenuric or lower the dose without checking with your doctor first. This medicine helps control your condition but doesn’t cure it, so it’s important to keep taking it even if you feel well.
You may experience more gout flares and possibly worsening pain during the initial treatment period. This is due to how Adenuric works. It’s important to continue taking it – over time, gout flares will occur less often and be less painful.
Hold the tablet between your thumbs and index fingers close to the score line. With the score line facing you, apply enough pressure to snap the tablet apart. You can also use a tablet cutter available from pharmacies.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.