Posts Tagged Arcalyst

On valentine’s day this year, the FDA gave all of us gout sufferer’s a special valentine’s day gift. They approved the first new gout drug in more than forty years. But the good news doesn’t end there. There are several other new gout drugs that are in development.

Febuxostat

Febuxostat is the generic name for the drug released on Valentine’s day.  It will be sold on the market under the brand name Ulroic® and is the first new xanthine oxidase inhibitor to be approved since allopurinol.  Xanthine oxidase inhibitors are medications that block the xanthine oxidase enzyme from creating uric acid in the body and thus, lowers uric acid levels.  This medication is chemically very different from allopurinol so it is hoped that people that have had allergic reactions to allopurinol will be able to take Uloric without any problems.  Though there are many documented cases of people that where allergic to allopurinol that have taken febuxostat without any problems, I would still recommend caution if you have had severe reactions to allopurinol — better safe than sorry.  Its best to start this medication at a very low dose and watch for any adverse reactions.
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