Probenecid, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to treat gout or gouty arthritis. It is also used with certain antibiotics to make them more effective. Take it exactly as directed.
• Keep all appointments for tests to see how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antigout; uricosuric

Generic and brand names: probenecid, oral

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat gout or gouty arthritis by removing excess uric acid from your body. With time, it will help prevent gout attacks, but does not treat a gout attack that has already started. It is also used with certain antibiotics to make them more effective.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• A blood disorder
• Kidney disease or kidney stones
• Ulcers or stomach problems

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider, especially if your healthcare provider prescribes other medicines for gout. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. It may take several months before you see the full effect of this medicine.

Do not use this medicine in children under age of 2 years.

You need to drink plenty of water or other liquid (10 glasses a day, or as instructed by your healthcare provider) to prevent kidney stones. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Take this medicine with food or an antacid to prevent stomach upset. When you take this medicine with antibiotics, follow your healthcare provider's instructions about how and when to take this medicine and any antacids your healthcare provider may prescribe.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, seizures, coma.

What should I watch out for?

Follow the diet program your healthcare provider recommends. Alcohol and foods such as beef, chicken, pork, liver, anchovies, and sardines may cause gout attacks. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

It may take time for this medicine to stop all gout attacks. The attacks will decrease gradually over a period of time. You must take it regularly for it to work. Your healthcare provider will prescribe other medicines to treat an attack.

Aspirin and other salicylates make this medicine less effective. Alcohol increases uric acid in the blood. Do not take aspirin or drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine. If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Your healthcare provider should check you regularly to see how this medicine affects you. You may need to have blood tests. Keep all appointments.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Painful urination, decreased urination, lower back pain, unusual bruising or bleeding, unusual tiredness or weakness, black or tarry bowel movements, blood in urine, severe vomiting, fast or irregular heartbeat, unexplained fever or sore throat, yellowing of skin or eyes.

Other: Loss of appetite, flushing, hair loss, headache, mild nausea, frequent urination, dizziness, sore gums.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Acetaminophen and medicines that contain acetaminophen
• Alcohol
• Antibiotics such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Moxatag), amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium (Augmentin), ampicillin, cefaclor, cefadroxil (Duricef), cefditoren (Spectracef), ceftazidime/avibactam (Avycaz), cephalexin (Keflex), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), dapsone, dicloxacillin, doripenem (Doribax), ertapenem (Invanz), gemifloxacin (Factive), imipenem (Primaxin), meropenem (Merrem), nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin), penicillin (Penicillin-VK), pyrazinamide, and rifampin (Rifadin)
• Antiviral medicines such as ganciclovir (Cytovene), oseltamivir (Tamiflu), and valganciclovir (Valcyte)
• Aspirin and other salicylates
• Diabetes medicines such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase), tolazamide, and tolbutamide
• Diuretics (water pills) such as bumetanide, furosemide (Lasix), and torsemide (Demadex)
• Entacapone (Comtan)
• Lorazepam (Ativan)
• Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic)
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Cambia, Voltaren, Zipsor), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac, nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• Pegloticase (Krystexxa)
• Pralatrexate (Folotyn)
• Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra)
• Zidovudine (Retrovir)

Probenecid may be prescribed to help certain kinds of medicines work better. Check with your healthcare provider before you start or stop taking other medicines. You may need a change in dosage.

Do not drink alcohol while you take this medicine.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.