Allopurinol and Alcohol: Side Effects and Interaction

What is Allopurinol?

Allopurinol is a medication used to decrease high blood uric acid levels. It is specifically used to prevent gout, prevent specific types of kidney stones, and high uric acid levels that can occur with chemotherapy. It is taken by mouth or injected into a vein. Allopurinol and Alcohol create different effects depending on the dose.

Allopurinol was first synthesized and reported in 1956 by Roland K. Robins (1926-1992), in a search for antineoplastic agents. Because allopurinol inhibits the breakdown (catabolism) of the thiopurine drug mercaptopurine, and it was later tested by Wayne Rundles, in collaboration with Gertrude Elion’s lab at Wellcome Research Laboratories to see if it could improve the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia by enhancing the action of mercaptopurine. However, no improvement in leukemia response was noted with mercaptopurine-allopurinol co-therapy, so the work turned to other compounds and the team then started testing allopurinol as a potential therapeutic for gout. Allopurinol was first marketed as a treatment for gout in 1966

How long should you take Allopurinol?

Allopurinol may be taken one time a day. Normal serum uric acid levels are usually achieved within one to three weeks. It may take two to six weeks before allopurinol actually relieves gout attacks. It is not unusual to experience a gout attack in the first few weeks of allopurinol initiation.

Allopurinol does not work directly away. It may take several weeks to lower the level of uric acid. You may have more gout attacks for some time after starting allopurinol. If allopurinol works for you, you may require to take it for the rest of your life to treat gout and kidney stones.

Also, drinking too much alcohol may boost the amount of uric acid in your blood. This may reduce the effects of colchicine when it is used to control gout attacks. Therefore, people who use colchicine should be cautious to limit the amount of alcohol they drink.

Skip To:

• What is Allopurinol?
• How long should you take Allopurinol?
• What are the side effects of stopping Allopurinol?
• What happens when you mix Allopurinol and Alcohol?
• Side Effects of Mixing Alcohol and Allopurinol
• Taking allopurinol and alcohol together
• Can you drink Alcohol while taking Allopurinol
• Allopurinol and Alcohol Interaction
• Allopurinol Alcohol Liver
• Allopurinol and Alcohol Consumption
• Allopurinol and Alcohol Overdose
• Alcohol Treatment

Learn More:

• Mixing Prescription Drugs with Alcohol
• Is Alcoholism a Disease?
• Drug Overdose Symptoms
• Substance Abuse Defined, Signs, Symptoms, Link to Mental Health

When people take allopurinol, the medication inhibits the enzyme cytochrome oxidase, which reduces uric acid in the body. However, allopurinol doesn’t affect uric acid itself- it only inhibits the production of uric acid. As a result, people taking allopurinol may experience elevated levels of this acid in their bodies. This is known as allopurinol toxicity or Allopurinol induced hyperuricemia (AIIH). When people take allopurinol with alcohol, there’s a strong possibility that the medication will inhibit the metabolism of alcohol by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase activity. This allows alcohol to accumulate in the body tissues and may cause serious side effects.

If someone takes an amount of alcohol equal to or greater than .10 on a drug level scale, his or her blood will show evidence of being intoxicated. However, if someone takes an amount of allopurinol equal to or greater than .10 on a drug level scale, his or her blood will show evidence of being severely poisoned by allopurinol. Since both medications have similar effects on the body’s circulatory system, both may lead to similar outcomes when mixed with alcohol.

Allopurinol is a phenytoin derivative and prevents the formation of uric acid and xanthurenic acid. As a result, it reduces the formation of kidney stones and promotes health in people with gout. Additionally, allopurinol is used to treat leukemia and promyelocytic leukemia (PLL). However, it has several side effects when taken incorrectly. These include alcohol liver damage and abnormal heart rhythms that can be fatal. Additionally, it can cause vascular leakage, which can lead to death due to suffocation

As a result, it’s important to understand how allopurinol works before using it. People with low platelet counts take allopurinol to reduce their chances of developing a blood clot. This can lead to severe side effects such as an abnormal heart rhythm or alcohol liver damage. In addition, people with leprosy take this drug to combat the disease’s symptoms- namely inflammation of the skin and mucus membranes. However, allopurinol has many negative side effects when taken incorrectly. That’s because it negatively affects blood cell counts when taken for gout treatment or for treating diseases.

Therefore, one important thing to understand about allopurinol is that it has many dangerous side effects when taken incorrectly. However, there are ways to avoid these side effects by taking this drug responsibly- for example, by eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercises.

Doing so reduces the chances that you’ll develop an unhealthy body composition while taking this drug safely. Ultimately, that will make sure you feel better without exposing yourself to risky situations or making yourself worse off while taking allopurinol responsibly.

It is possible to drink alcohol while taking Allopurinol, although the effects may vary.

Alcohol consumption can lead to increased uric acid levels in the blood, which can increase the risk of gout. However, if you are taking Allopurinol, it is unlikely that drinking will affect your uric acid levels.

There are some drugs that reduce uric acid levels, but they can also affect your liver if not taken properly. Alcohol is one of these drugs, so it’s best to avoid it while taking allopurinol.

Alcoholism Treatment

Individual and Group Counseling

Alcohol addiction and mental health counseling occur in both individual and group settings. One-on-one treatment sessions may address unresolved trauma, unconscious conflicts, and specific struggles, while group sessions often involve training in life skills, stress management, conflict resolution, and social connections. Group counseling also gives clients a chance to share their thoughts and experiences to develop social support, which is essential for lasting recovery

You are always in search of ways how to sober up fast. You may not realize that drinking alcohol causes brain damage. If you have apprehensions about quitting drinking because you’re nervous about the effects of alcohol withdrawal, talk to one of our addiction specialists. Please, do not try to detox on your own because the detox process can be painful and difficult without medical assistance. If you or someone you know regularly exceeds these recommended daily limits or is experiencing the effects of alcohol withdrawal, it is important to intervene early. We Level Up NJ has addiction specialists that are standing by to help.