On call: New medication for gout
The probenecid (Benemid) you're now taking promotes urinary excretion of uric acid, which lowers blood levels and protects the joints, but the extra uric acid in the urine can increase the risk of kidney stones. That's one reason allopurinol (Zyloprim) became the standard drug for preventing gout. It inhibits xanthine oxidase, the enzyme that converts purines into uric acid. As a result, blood uric acid levels fall. The drug is very effective, but allergic reactions are fairly common.
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