Febutaz 40 Tablet

Composition Febuxostat (40mg)
Rx Prescription Required
Pack strip of 10 tablets
Storage Store below 30°C
Chemical Class Thiazole Derivative
Action Class Xanthine oxidase Inhibitors-gout
Habbit Forming No
Manufacturer Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd
Manufacturer address 90, Delhi – Jaipur Road, Sector 32, Gurugram, Haryana 122001

Febutaz 40 Tablet can be taken with or without food. You should keep taking it as recommended by your doctor even when you are not having a gout attack. If you stop, your symptoms may get worse because of the formation of more crystals in your joints. You can help yourself by making some changes to your diet (eg. avoiding alcohol and non-vegetarian foods) and drinking plenty of fluids.

Some of the common side effects of this medicine are headache, diarrhea, nausea, and skin rash. You may experience a temporary increase in the gout symptoms (rapid onset of severe pain, warmth, and redness in the joint) when you first start taking the medicine. However, do not stop taking the medicine. Your doctor may suggest some painkillers and additional medicines to help reduce or prevent these symptoms. Tell your doctor right away if you get any symptoms of liver disease like persistent nausea, dark urine, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Before taking this medicine, let your doctor know if you have any heart problems, stroke, thyroid problems, or kidney or liver problems. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, this medicine is best avoided. Check with your doctor. You will need regular blood tests while taking this medicine to check that your liver is working properly.

Treatment of Gout

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Febutaz 40 Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

Febutaz 40 Tablet is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. It works by decreasing blood uric acid, which is the chemical that causes gout.

If you miss a dose of Febutaz 40 Tablet, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Your doctor has prescribed Febutaz 40 Tablet to reduce episodes of gout attack.

Take it at the same time every day, with or without food.

Take plenty of fluids (2-3 litres) daily while on Febutaz 40 Tablet.

When you first start taking this medicine, you might have more gout attacks. Do not stop Febutaz 40 Tablet on having an acute attack of gout as that could make an attack worse.

Do not consume alcohol while taking this medicine as it may cause your gout to flare up.

Stop taking this medicine and inform your doctor straight away if you have symptoms like rash, itchiness, difficulties in breathing, fever, or swelling of limbs or face.

Q. What is Febutaz 40 Tablet used for?

Febutaz 40 Tablet is used to treat gout in adults. It is mainly used in patients who did not respond to the treatment with allopurinol or who are not able to take allopurinol. Gout is a type of arthritis in which uric acid, a naturally occurring substance in the body, builds up in the joints. It causes sudden attacks of redness, swelling, pain, and heat in one or more joints.

Q. What are the side effects of Febutaz 40 Tablet?

Febutaz 40 Tablet may cause common side effects such as abnormal liver test results, diarrhea, headache, rash, nausea, and even an increase in gout symptoms and localized swelling due to retention of fluids in tissues (edema). Whereas, the serious side effects of Febutaz 40 Tablet include heart problems, gout flares, liver problems, and severe skin and allergic reactions. Immediately inform your doctor if you experience any serious side effects.

Q. How long should I take Febutaz 40 Tablet?

The dose and duration of Febutaz 40 Tablet vary from person to person and are decided by your doctor. It may take several months before Febutaz 40 Tablet begins to prevent gout attacks. Do not stop taking Febutaz 40 Tablet without the advice of your doctor even if you feel better.

Q. What is the best time to take Febutaz 40 Tablet?

Febutaz 40 Tablet is advised to be taken once a day. It can be taken at any time of the day, but preferably at the same time each day so that you remember to take it every day. This will help maintain the levels of Febutaz 40 Tablet in the body. You can take this medicine with or without food.

Q. Can Febutaz 40 Tablet cause kidney damage?

Febutaz 40 Tablet may affect kidneys in different ways, though it is quite uncommon. You may experience blood in the urine, frequent urination, kidney stones, abnormal urine tests (increased level of proteins in the urine), and a reduction in the ability of the kidneys to function properly. Rarely, it may cause changes or decrease in urine amount due to inflammation in the kidneys (tubulointerstitial nephritis). Consult your doctor if your kidney functions get further affected.

Q. Can I stop taking Febutaz 40 Tablet on my own if I am fine and have no pain or swelling in joints?

No, do not stop taking Febutaz 40 Tablet without your doctor’s advice even if you feel better. Discontinuation of medicine may increase the levels of uric acid. It may also worsen your symptoms due to the formation of new crystals of urate in and around your joints and kidneys.

Q. What are the things which I need to know while taking Febutaz 40 Tablet?

You should be aware that Febutaz 40 Tablet may cause serious heart problems which can be life-threatening in some cases. The symptoms of heart problems include chest pain, shortness of breath or trouble breathing, dizziness, fainting or feeling light-headed, rapid or irregular heartbeat. It may also cause numbness or weakness in one side of your body, slurring of speech and sudden blurry vision, or sudden severe headache. Immediately inform your doctor and seek medical help if you experience any of these symptoms.

Q. Can Febutaz 40 Tablet cause any liver problems?

Yes, Febutaz 40 Tablet use may cause liver problems. Your doctor may advise you to get regular blood tests done before and during treatment with Febutaz 40 Tablet to check how well your liver was working before and while taking this medicine. Inform your doctor if you notice symptoms such as fatigue, pain, or tenderness on the right side of the abdomen or loss of appetite for several days or longer. It may also cause changes in the color of urine (dark or tea-colored) and may make your skin or the white part of your eyes turn yellow (jaundice).

In Treatment of Gout

Febutaz 40 Tablet is used to prevent and treat gout. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in your body. When the level becomes too high, crystals may form in and around certain joints and your kidneys. This can cause sudden and severe pain, redness, warmth, and swelling. This medicine works by preventing crystals from forming and reducing the levels of uric acid in your blood. This makes it less likely that you will suffer the symptoms and make them milder if you do have them. It is usually for long-term treatment and should be taken regularly until the dose is completed.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Gout flares

Skin rash

Nausea

Increased liver enzymes

Headache

Diarrhea

Alcohol:CAUTION

Caution is advised when consuming alcohol with Febutaz 40 Tablet. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Febutaz 40 Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.

Breast feeding:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

Febutaz 40 Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.

Driving:UNSAFE

Febutaz 40 Tablet may cause side effects which could affect your ability to drive.Febutaz 40 Tablet may cause dizziness, sleepiness, blurred vision, numbness or tingling sensation. This may affect your driving ability.

Kidney:CAUTION

Febutaz 40 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe kidney disease. Dose adjustment of Febutaz 40 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Limited information is available regarding the use of Febutaz 40 Tablet in these patients.

Liver:CAUTION

Febutaz 40 Tablet should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Dose adjustment of Febutaz 40 Tablet may be needed. Please consult your doctor.Limited information is available regarding the use of Febutaz 40 Tablet in these patients.

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Briggs GG, Freeman RK, editors. A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk: Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health; 2015. pp. 534-35.

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