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Haemochromatosis and allopurinol..is it ok to take allopurinol?

Posted , 3 users are following.

mike80628
mike80628

Hi folks. I was diagnosed with hh last year, ferritin level of 2000! After a year of weekly venesections, my level is now 38. I'm now in maintenance phase. It's just dawned on me today that I've been taking allopurinol for the last 5 years, as I had a gout attack. My question is, is it OK to take allopurinol with Haemochromatosis?

Thanks. Mike.

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • lorraine73505
    lorraine73505 mike80628

    Posted

    Hi Mike

    I don't know the answer to your question - BUT, my count is apparently 2,500 (!) and yours is the nearest to me that I've seen on this discussion forum.  My first appt with a heamatologist is not until 10 August (UK NHS - we pay into it for years and when you need them for real the wait could kill you!) - anyway, I'm sorry I crashed your discussion just to talk about me - hope you get a decent answer from our fellow Chromos - based on what I've seen here, I'm sure you will. xx

  • jwrhn1951
    jwrhn1951 mike80628

    Posted

    Hi Mike

    Yeah it's ok to take Allopurinal, I was taking 300mg/day for years. After I got to maintance I found I could reduce the dosage to 150mg/day. I had what they said was tophus gout with nodules on my feet and in my joints. The phlebotomies made them all go away. I don't think thats normal but I'm H63D homozygous so it may be a bit different than you C282Y folks.

    I also take a colchicine/probenecid combination  that I was able to cut the dosage in half also.

    One thing about the appolurinal if you do try to cut back do it slowly or you may get a flare. I found I needed to cut  back over several weeks, and of course discuss it with your MD before trying to reduce the dosage to make sure they agree.

    • mike80628
      mike80628 jwrhn1951

      Posted

      Hi. Great advice. Thanks for that. I'll chat to my Doc.

      Mike

  • sheryl37154
    sheryl37154 mike80628

    Posted

    A couple of years ago I got a call from someone asking that same question because he had heard that HH and allopurinol did not go together.  I did find a website where the specialist said no, do not take allopurinal when you have HH.  I cannot remember why.

    It is also important  to know if you have real gout and not pseudo gout caused by HH.  The following is from Product Information of Progout (Allopurinol) by alphapharm as at 11 May 2001.

    Haemochromatosis

    Allopurinol’s primary action in treating gout is to inhibit the enzyme, xanthine oxidase. Xanthine oxidase may be involved in the reduction and clearance of hepatically stored iron. Some rodent studies have found increased iron storage in animals treated with allopurinol, whilst others have not. A study in 28 health volunteers found no change in hepatic iron storage with allopurinol treatment. There are no human studies which have investigated the safety of administering allopurinol to patients with haemochromatosis. Administration of allopurinol to patients with abnormal iron storage, including haemochromatosis, should be undertaken with caution. 

    Unless the Xanthine oxidase theory has since been disproven, then I suppose the warning still stands.

     

    • mike80628
      mike80628 sheryl37154

      Posted

      Hi. That's great. I've had some people say to me they have hh and are taking allopurinol and that it's fine having discussed concerns with their Doc. I will chat to my Doc and discuss this. Might be that I refuse the dosage initially and take it from there.

      Thanks for your informative comment. Mike.

  • jwrhn1951
    jwrhn1951 mike80628

    Posted

    Hi Mike

    Sheryl brings up some good points. As I had been taking allopurinal for so long before they finally figured out I had hemochromatosis they did not have concerns in my case, but like everything with hemochromatosis each individual is different and I'm glad you are going to discuss this with your MD.

    Gout like hemochromatosis is not a beign disease, it not only damages the joints but can harm the heart and kidneys as well. It looks like you dodged a bullet with the early detection of your hemochromatosis but you also need to be aware that the gout won't go away just because the hemochromatosis is treated.

    In my case I have been able to reduce the amount of allopurinal I take while in maintaince but I can't get away from it all togeather without having a flare even with maintance phlebotomies every 2 months.

    Again definately make any changes after talking to your MD

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