Daily Medication Pearl: Febuxostat (Uloric)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Febuxostat (Uloric)

Indication: Febuxostat (Uloric) is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor indicated for the chronic management of hyperuricemia in patients with gout. Febuxostat is not recommended for the treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Insight:

• Dosing: Febuxostat is recommended at 40 mg or 80 mg once daily. The recommended starting dose is 40 mg once daily. For patients who do not achieve a serum uric acid less than 6 mg/dL after 2 weeks with 40 mg, Uloric 80 mg is recommended.
• Dosage forms: Tablet 40 mg, 80 mg.
• Adverse events: Adverse reactions occurring in at least 1% of patients treated with Febuxostat and at least 0.5% greater than placebo are liver function abnormalities, nausea, arthralgia, and rash.
• Mechanism of action: Uloric, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, achieves its therapeutic effect by decreasing serum uric acid. Febuxostat is not expected to inhibit other enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine synthesis and metabolism at therapeutic concentrations.

Source: ULORIC (febuxostat) tablet for oral use (fda.gov)