Is allopurinol classified as an antacid?

Question

My blood pressure medication indicates that it should not be taken with an antacid. Would allupurinol be included?

Answer 1

It is classified as a Hyperuricemia & Gout Preparation.

Allopurinol is a drug used primarily to treat conditions arising from excess uric acid, most notably chronic gout. Allopurinol does not alleviate acute attacks of gout, but is useful in preventing recurrence. Allopurinol has been used in the United States since 1964.

Uses (other than in treatment of gout)

In addition to its use in gout, allopurinol is also commonly used as prophylaxis with chemotherapeutic treatments, which can rapidly result in very high uric acid concentrations due to widespread cell death (tumour lysis syndrome). Other established indications for allopurinol therapy include ischaemic reperfusion injury, kidney stones (urolithiasis) and protozoal infections (Leishmaniasis).

Answer 2

Allopurinol is primarily a gout medicine.  It helps decrease uric acid levels.  Uric acid is a byproduct of protein metabolism.  When you uric acid levels get to high it can deposit in tissues and cause inflammation.  This condition is known as gout and can be very painful and uncomfortable.  You would use Colchicine for acute attacks of gout and allopurinol to keep from getting gout attacks.  It also helps to decrease protein in you diet if you are having gout problems.

Allopurinol is also use in cancer therapy to decrease uric acid levels that rise due to certain treatments.

Answer 3

Allopurinol is not an antacid in the same way as Mylanta or Tums. It targets a specific type of acid (uric acid) which is not in the GI tract (which is where the Tums, etc are intended to work). Antacids such as Tums, Rolaids, etc are known to "bind up" other meds taken at the same time as these antacids therefore they would inhibit the intended action (i.e. BP meds would not be able to lower BP b/c they are bound up & not available to do their "job"). Allopurinol is different in this aspect and is often taken along with various BP meds. Check with your pharmacist as he/she is aware of the specific BP med you are taking & can advise you further. Hope this helps.