Your prescription for Zyloric-300*

 

Please read this carefully before you start to take your medicine This leaflet contains important information about your treatment If you have any doubts or questions, or you are not sure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Doctors sometimes prescribe Zyloric-300 for other purposes, but will tell you more if you ask them.

 

The name of your medicine is Zyloric-300 (allopurinol). It belongs to a group of medicines called enzyme inhibitors, which act, like a water-tap, to control the rate at which special chemical changes occur in the body. It is used to prevent gout and other conditions associated with excess uric acid in the body, including calcium stones in the kidney.

 

Things to remember about Zyloric-300

 

1.  Make sure it is all right for you to take Zyloric-300. (see the back of this leaflet before you do so).

2.  Take your medicine correctly, either as shown in this leaflet or the container label, or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.

 

3.  Zyloric-300 may occasionally cause unwanted effects. You can find these listed on the back of the leaflet.†

 

4.  Keep your medicine out of reach of children.

5.  Remember if you are left with any Zyloric-300 tablets which you no longer require or which have passed their 'use by date' - return them to your pharmacist for disposal.

 

 

 

The information in this leaflet is only brief; if you need further information as your doctor or pharmacist.         continued

 

Before taking your medicine

Ask yourself these questions before taking Zyloric-300.

·   Are you taking or likely to be taking any other medicines whilst you are taking Zyloric-300?

·   Have you previously experienced an allergic reaction to allopurinol?

·   If you are about to start taking Zyloric-300 for gout for the very first time, are you experiencing an attack of gout at the present?

·   Do you suffer from any liver or kidney disease?

·   Are you pregnant or trying to become pregnant?

If the answer is YES to any of these questions or you are not sure, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

 

Taking your medicine

·   It is important to take your medicine every day. The label on the carton should tell you how many tablets to take and how often. If it doesn't or you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

·   The usual dosage for adults is one Zyloric-300mg tablet, each day. Try to take your tablet at the same time each day. It helps you to remember if you do this as part of your daily routine, for example, at breakfast time.

·   The back of the tablet blister strip is marked in days of the week. Press your first tablet out through the foil marked with today's day - for instance, if today is Tuesday, use one marked 'Tue', move onto the 'Wed' tablet tomorrow, and so on. This will help you to check that you have taken each tablet on the correct day. Follow the arrows, and do not start another blister strip of tablets until the first is finished. You should then start a new blister strip (on the same day you started the first one) every two weeks.

·   The tablet should be swallowed with half a teacup of water, after a meal (not on an empty stomach).

·   If you forget to take a tablet, take it as soon as you remember. Then go on as before. The calendar markings should help you to check that you are taking your tablets correctly.

·   Do not stop taking your Zyloric-300 simply because you feel better, as your condition may get worse

·   In the event of accidental overdose, contact your doctor immediately.

 

†After taking your medicine

This medicine may cause side-effects in some people, although these are rare.

·   Occasionally, you may get a mild 'sicky' feeling.

Taking Zyloric-300 after meals usually stops this, but tell your doctor if it persists.

If any of the following occur, it is sensible not to take further Zyloric-300 tablets until you have talked to your doctor or pharmacist. Do this as soon as you can.

·   Unexpected skin reaction, e.g. a rash.

·   If you become unwell (particularly if you have been taking the tablets for a long time) and you are unable to think of another reason for your feeling unwell.

Storing your medicine

·   Keep Zyloric-300 in a cool, safe place where children cannot reach it. Medicines can harm if not used properly.

·   If your doctor tells you to stop the treatment, return any left over tablets to the pharmacist. Only keep them if your doctor tells you to.

 

What's in your medicine

·   Zyloric-300 tablets are creamy white and contain 300mg of allopurinol. The word 'Zyloric-300' appears on each tablet.

·   They do not contain any colourants or preservatives.

 

About Gout

Gout is caused by having high levels of uric acid in the blood. If too much uric acid is present in the blood, some of it can form into needle-like crystals - often in the joints. Your body tries to fight these, which causes pain and swelling.

Zyloric-300 works by controlling the amount of uric acid in your blood, stopping the crystals from forming, and so avoids the pain and swelling. If you stop taking the tablets, control is lost, so you would once again be likely to get an attack.

It is not unusual for the number of gouty attacks to increase until your uric acid level becomes stable as it may take a while for Zyloric-300 to achieve full control. Your doctor may prescribe extra medicines to help until the uric acid level is reduced.

 

Gout affects all sorts of people. Mostly it seems to be an hereditary illness, though diet may also be partly responsible in some cases. Your doctor may suggest that you try to avoid certain foods (kidneys, liver, sardines, turkey, shellfish) and excess alcohol. You may be asked to drink plenty of water, avoid the cold and not over-eat. If you follow your doctor's advice and take your Zyloric-300 tablet daily, you should get no further

attacks of gout.

 

REMEMBER: This medicine is for YOU Only a doctor can prescribe it for you. Never give it to others. It may harm them even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

 

The Product Licence for Zyloric-300 is held by The Wellcome Foundation Limited, London. This leaflet is produced in accordance with guidance issued by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. The information in it applies only to Zyloric-300.

 

*Trade mark The Wellcome Foundation Ltd London Supplied in the Rep of Ireland by Wellcome Ireland Ltd Dublin

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