SULFINPYRAZONE

Brand & Generic Names

Antazone
Anturan
Anturane
Apo-Sulfinpyrazone
Novopyrazone

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Antigout

Uses

• Treatment for chronic gout.
• Reduces severity of recurrent heart attack. (This use is experimental and not yet approved by F.D.A.)

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet or capsule--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet or open capsule and take with liquid or food.

When to take:
At the same times each day.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than 2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).

What drug does:
Reduces uric-acid level in blood and tissues by increasing amount of uric acid secreted in urine by kidneys.

Time lapse before drug works:
May require 6 months to prevent gout attacks.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Breathing difficulty, vomiting, imbalance, seizures, convulsions, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• If patient is unconscious and not breathing, give mouth-to- mouth breathing. If there is no heartbeat, use cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth breathing (CPR). Don't try to make patient vomit. If you can't get help quickly, take patient to nearest emergency facility.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

None expected.

Infrequent:

• Painful or difficult urination, worsening gout.
• Rash, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, low back pain.

Rare:

• Black, bloody or tarry stools.
• Sore throat; fever; unusual bleeding or bruising; red, painful joints; blood in urine; fatigue or weakness.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any uricosuric*.
• You have acute gout.
• You have active ulcers (stomach or duodenal), enteritis or ulcerative colitis.
• You have blood cell disorders.
• You are allergic to oxyphenbutazone or phenylbutazone.

Before you start, consult your doctor:
If you have kidney or blood disease.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. You require lower dose because of decreased kidney function.

Pregnancy:
Studies inconclusive on harm to unborn child. Decide with your doctor whether drug benefits justify risk to unborn child.

Breast-feeding:
No proven problems. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• Possible kidney damage.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit), kidney function, serum uric acid and urine uric acid.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without consulting doctor. Dose may require gradual reduction if you have taken drug for a long time. Doses of other drugs may also require adjustment.

Others:

• Drink 10 to 12 glasses of water each day you take this medicine.
• Periodic blood and urine laboratory tests recommended.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Allopurinol	Increased effect of each drug.
Anticoagulants*,	Increased anticoagulant effect.
Antidiabetics*,	Increased antidiabetic
oral	effect.
Aspirin	Bleeding tendency. Decreased
	sulfinpyrazone effect.
Bismuth	Decreased effect of sulfinpyrazone.
Cephalosporins*	Increased risk of bleeding.
Cholestyramine	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Contraceptives*,	Increased bleeding between
oral	menstrual periods.
Diuretics*	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Penicillins*	Increased penicillin effect.
Salicylates*	Bleeding tendency. Decreased
	sulfinpyrazone effect.
Sulfa drugs*	Increased effect of sulfa drugs.
Thioguanine	May need increased dosage of
	sulfinpyrazone.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Caffeine drinks.	Decreased sulfinpyrazone effect.
Cocaine:	None expected.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Occasional use--None expected.
	Daily use--May increase blood level
	of uric acid.
Tobacco:	None expected.