Febuxostat for Gout and Hyperuricemia
Title: Febuxostat: a non-purine, selective inhibitor
of xanthine oxidase for the management of hyperuricaemia in patients
with gout.
Author: Schumacher HR Jr.
Publication: Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2005
Jul;14(7):893-903.
Febuxostat is a drug used for the management of hyperuricemia
(excessive level of uric acid in the blood) in patients with gout.
It is a non-purine, selective inhibitor of an enzyme called xanthine
oxidase. This enzyme is involved in the conversion of chemicals
to uric acid.
The author reported that 10 to 120 mg/day dose of Feuxostat can
produce rapid and sustainable decline in uric acid level in the
blood by 25 to 75%, in patients that either over produce uric
acid or under-secrete it. This dose seems to be pharmacokinetically
linear (i.e. increased dose produce more lowering of uric acid
level in a linear fashion), without the need to adjust the dose
for those with liver or kidney problems.
When given colchicines or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
in addition to Febuxostat, the risk of gout flare up can be reduced
even more. Febuxostat is well tolerated, with only transient mild-to-moderate
side effects.
Editor’s note: purine is a group of organic compounds,
one member of which is uric acid. Colchicines are a class of drugs
used to treat gout.
