Blixostat-40 40 mg

Indication

Blixostat-40 is a film-coated tablet of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat, indicated for the chronic management of hyperuricaemia in adults with gout, including patients with a history of, or presence of, tophus and/or gouty arthritis. It is a urate-lowering therapy intended to reduce serum uric acid to target, and is useful in patients intolerant of allopurinol or in whom allopurinol is contraindicated.

Ingredients

• Febuxostat 40 mg

Direction

For oral administration. Adults: usual starting dose is 40 mg once daily. If serum uric acid is not less than 6 mg/dL after 2 to 4 weeks, 80 mg once daily may be considered. Can be taken with or without food and with or without antacids. Continue gout flare prophylaxis (e.g. colchicine or an NSAID) for at least the first 6 months of urate-lowering therapy. Dose adjustment may be needed in moderate to severe renal or hepatic impairment; follow prescriber's advice.

Side effects

• Gout flares
• especially at treatment initiation
• Liver function abnormalities (raised transaminases)
• Nausea
• diarrhoea
• abdominal discomfort
• Headache
• dizziness
• Rash
• pruritus
• rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions including Stevens
• Johnson syndrome and DRESS
• Oedema of the lower limbs
• Cardiovascular events (including cardiovascular death) reported in patients with a history of major cardiovascular disease

Precautions

• Do not start febuxostat during an acute gout attack
• once established on therapy
• do not stop during a flare
• Co
• administer NSAID or colchicine prophylaxis at the start of therapy to prevent gout flares
• Use with caution in patients with ischaemic heart disease
• heart failure or history of stroke
• weigh benefit vs cardiovascular risk
• Monitor liver function tests before starting and periodically thereafter
• Caution in severe renal or hepatic impairment
• dose adjustment may be required
• Contraindicated with concurrent azathioprine or mercaptopurine
• Discontinue immediately if signs of serious skin reaction or hypersensitivity occur
• Not recommended in pregnancy or breastfeeding unless clearly needed
• Keep out of reach of children