Patient leaflet - FEBUXOSTAT ACCORD 120 MG FILM-COATED TABLETS
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Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
- The full name of this medicine is Febuxostat 80mg and 120mg Film-coated Tablets but within this leaflet it will be referred to as Febuxostat Tablets.
What is in this leaflet
I what Febuxostat Tablets are and what they are used for
2
what you need to know before you take Febuxostat Tablets
3
How to take Febuxostat Tablets
4
Possible side effects
show to store Febuxostat Tablets
6
Contents of the pack and other information
I what Febuxostat Tablets are and what they are used for
Febuxostat Tablets contain the active substance febuxostat and are used to treat gout, which is associated with an excess of a chemical called uric acid (urate) in the body. In some people, the amount of uric acid builds up in the blood and may become too high to remain soluble. When this happens, urate crystals may form in and around the joints and kidneys. These crystals can cause sudden, severe pain, redness, warmth and swelling in a joint (known as a gout attack). Left untreated, larger deposits called tophi may form in and around joints. These tophi may cause joint and bone damage.
Febuxostat Tablets work by reducing uric acid levels. Keeping uric acid levels low by taking Febuxostat Tablets once every day stops crystals building up, and over time it reduces symptoms. Keeping uric acid levels sufficiently low for a long enough period can also shrink tophi.
Febuxostat 120 mg tablets are also used to treat and prevent high blood levels of uric acid that may occur when you start to receive chemotherapy for blood cancers.
When chemotherapy is given, cancer cells are destroyed, and uric acid levels increase in the blood accordingly, unless the formation of uric acid is prevented.
Febuxostat Tablets are for adults.
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what you need to know before you take Febuxostat Tablets
Do not take Febuxostat Tablets:
- if you are allergic to febuxostat or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor before taking Febuxostat Tablets:
- if you have or have had heart failure, heart problems, or stroke
- if you have or have had renal disease and/or serious allergic reaction to Allopurinol (a medication used for the treatment of gout)
- if you have or have had liver disease or liver function test abnormalities
- if you are being treated for high uric acid levels as a result of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (a rare inherited condition in which there is too much uric acid in the blood)
- if you have thyroid problems.
- Should you experience allergic reactions to Febuxostat Tablets, stop taking this medicine (see also section 4). Possible symptoms of allergic reactions might be: rash including severe forms (e.g. blisters, nodules, itchy, exfoliative rash), itchiness
- swelling of limbs or face
- difficulties in breathing
- fever with enlarged lymph nodes
- but also serious life-threatening allergic conditions with cardiac and circulatory arrest.
Your doctor might decide to permanently stop treatment with Febuxostat Tablets.
There have been rare reports of potentially lifethreatening skin rashes (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome) with the use of febuxostat, appearing initially as reddish target-like spots or circular patches often with central blister on the trunk. It may also include ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals and conjunctivitis (red and swollen eyes). The rash may progress to widespread blistering or peeling of the skin.
If you have developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome with the use of febuxostat, you must not be restarted on Febuxostat Tablets at any time. If you develop a rash or these skin symptoms, seek immediate advice from a doctor and tell them that you are taking this medicine.
If you are having a gout attack at the moment (a sudden onset of severe pain, tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling in a joint), wait for the gout attack to subside before first starting treatment with Febuxostat Tablets.
Package leaflet: Information for the user
Febuxostat 80mg and 120mg Film-coated Tablets
febuxostat
For some people, gout attacks may flare up when starting certain medicines that control uric acid levels. Not everyone gets flares, but you could get a flare-up even if you are taking Febuxostat Tablets, and especially during the first weeks or months of treatment. It is important to keep taking Febuxostat Tablets even if you have a flare, as Febuxostat Tablets are still working to lower uric acid. Over time, gout flares will occur less often and be less painful if you keep taking Febuxostat Tablets every day.
Your doctor will often prescribe other medicines, if they are needed, to help prevent or treat the symptoms of flares (such as pain and swelling in a joint).
In patients with very high urate levels (e.g. those undergoing cancer chemotherapy), treatment with uric acid-lowering medicines could lead to the build-up of xanthine in the urinary tract, with possible stones, even though this has not been observed in patients being treated with febuxostat for Tumor Lysis Syndrome.
Your doctor may ask you to have blood tests to check that your liver is working normally.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children under the age of 18 because the safety and efficacy have not been established.
Other medicines and Febuxostat Tablets
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
It is especially important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicines containing any of the following substances as they may interact with Febuxostat Tablets and your doctor may wish to consider necessary measures:
- Mercaptopurine (used to treat cancer)
- Azathioprine (used to reduce immune response)
- Theophylline (used to treat asthma).
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
It is not known if Febuxostat Tablets may harm your unborn child. Febuxostat Tablets should not be taken during pregnancy.
It is not known if Febuxostat Tablets may pass into human breast milk. You should not take Febuxostat Tablets if you are breast-feeding, or if you are planning to breast-feed.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Be aware that you may experience dizziness, sleepiness, blurred vision and numbness or tingling sensation during treatment and should not drive or operate machines, if affected.
Febuxostat Tablets contain lactose
Febuxostat Tablets contain lactose (a type of sugar). If you have been told that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
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How to take Febuxostat Tablets
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- The usual dose is one tablet daily. The back of the blister pack is marked with the days of the week to help you check that you have taken a dose each day.
- The tablets should be taken by mouth and can be taken with or without food.
Gout
Febuxostat Tablets are available as either an 80mg tablet or a 120mg tablet. Your doctor will have prescribed the strength most suitable for you.
Continue to take Febuxostat Tablets every day even when you are not experiencing gout flare or attack.
Prevention and treatment of high uric acid levels in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy
Febuxostat is available as a 120 mg tablet.
Start taking Febuxostat tablets two days before chemotherapy and continue its use according to your doctor’s advice. Usually treatment is short-term.
If you take more Febuxostat Tablets than you should
In the event of an accidental overdose ask your doctor what to do, or contact your nearest accident and emergency department.
If you forget to take Febuxostat Tablets
If you miss a dose of Febuxostat Tablets, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose, in which case miss out the forgotten dose and take your next dose at the normal time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Febuxostat Tablets
Do not stop taking Febuxostat Tablets without the advice of your doctor even if you feel better. If you stop taking Febuxostat Tablets, your uric acid levels may begin to rise and your symptoms may worsen due to the formation of new crystals of urate in and around your joints and kidneys.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
^Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately or go to an emergency department nearby if the following rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) side effects occur, because a serious allergic reaction might follow:
- anaphylactic reactions, drug hypersensitivity (see also section 2 “Warnings and precautions”)
- potentially life-threatening skin rashes characterized by formation of blisters and shedding of the skin and inner surfaces of body cavities, e.g. mouth and genitals, painful ulcers in the mouth and/or genital areas, accompanied by fever, sore throat and fatigue (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis), or by enlarged lymph nodes, liver enlargement, hepatitis (up to liver failure), raising of the white-cells count in the blood (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms-DRESS) (see section 2)
- generalised skin rashes.
The common side effects ( may affect up to 1 in 10 people) are:
- abnormal liver test results
- diarrhoea
- headache
- rash (including various types of rash, please see below under ‘uncommon’ and ‘rare’ sections)
- nausea
- increase in gout symptoms
- localized swelling due to retention of fluids in tissues (oedema).
Other side effects which are not mentioned above are listed below.
Uncommon side effects ( may affect up to 1 in 100 people) are:
- decreased appetite, change in blood sugar levels (diabetes) of which a symptom may be excessive thirst, increased blood fat levels, weight increase
- loss of sex drive
- difficulty in sleeping, sleepiness
- dizziness, numbness, tingling, reduced or altered sensation (hypoesthesia, hemiparesis or paraesthesia)
- altered sense of taste, diminished sense of smell (hyposmia)
- abnormal ECG heart tracing, irregular or rapid heartbeats, feeling your heart beat (palpitation)
- hot flushes or flushing (e.g. redness of the face or neck), increased blood pressure, bleeding (haemorrhage, seen only in patients taking chemotherapy for blood disorders)
- cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort or pain, inflammation of nasal passage and/or throat (upper respiratory tract infection), bronchitis
- dry mouth, abdominal pain/discomfort or wind, heartburn/indigestion, constipation, more frequent passing of stools, vomiting, stomach discomfort
- itching, hives, skin inflammation, skin discolouration, small red or purple spots on the skin, small flat red spots on the skin, flat red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps, rash, areas of redness and spots on the skin, other types of skin conditions
- muscle cramp, muscle weakness, pain/ache in muscles/joints, bursitis or arthritis (inflammation of joints usually accompanied by pain, swelling and/ or stiffness), pain in extremities, back pain, muscle spasm
- blood in the urine, abnormal frequent urination, abnormal urine tests (increased level of proteins in the urine), a reduction in the ability of the kidneys to function properly
- fatigue, chest pain, chest discomfort
- stones in the gallbladder or in bile ducts (cholelithiasis)
- increase in blood thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level
- changes in blood chemistry or amount of blood cells or platelets (abnormal blood test results)
- kidney stones
- erectile difficulties.
Rare side effects ( may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) are:
- muscle damage, a condition which on rare occasions can be serious. It may cause muscle problems and particularly, if at the same time, you feel unwell or have a high temperature it may be caused by an abnormal muscle breakdown. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience muscle pain, tenderness or weakness
- severe swelling of the deeper layers of the skin, especially around the lips, eyes, genitals, hands, feet or tongue, with possible sudden difficult breathing
- high fever in combination with measles-like skin rash, enlarged lymph nodes, liver enlargement, hepatitis (up to liver failure), raising of the white cells count in the blood (leukocytosis, with or without eosinophilia)
- reddening of the skin (erythema), rash in various types (e.g. itchy, with white spots, with blisters, with blisters containing pus, with shedding of the skin, measles-like rash), widespread erythema, necrosis, and bullous detachment ofthe epidermis and mucous membranes, resulting in exfoliation and possible sepsis (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic epidermal necrolysis)
- nervousness
- feeling thirsty
- ringing in the ears
- blurred vision, change in vision
- hair loss
- mouth ulceration
- inflammation of the pancreas: common symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
- increased sweating
- weight decrease, increased appetite, uncontrolled loss of appetite (anorexia)
- muscle and/or joint stiffness
- abnormally low blood cell counts (white or red blood cells or platelets)
- urgent need to urinate
- changes or decrease in urine amount due to inflammation in the kidneys (tubulointerstitial nephritis)
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis)
- yellowing of the skin (jaundice)
- liver damage
- increased level of creatine phosphokinase in blood (an indicator of muscle damage)
- sudden cardiac death.
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Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Ireland
HPRA Pharmacovigilance
Website:
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
show to store Febuxostat Tablets
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and the tablet blister foil after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
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Contents of the pack and other information
What Febuxostat Tablets contain
- The active substance is febuxostat.
Each tablet contains 80mg of febuxostat (as magnesium salts).
Each tablet contains 120mg of febuxostat (as magnesium salts).
- The other ingredients are
What Febuxostat Tablets look like and contents of the pack
Febuxostat 80mg Film-coated Tablets
Pale yellow to yellow, film-coated, capsule shaped tablets, engraved with “80” on one side, 17.2 ± 0.2 mm in length, 6.2 ± 0.2 mm in width, 5.6 ± 0.2 mm in thickness.
Febuxostat 120mg Film-coated Tablets
Pale yellow to yellow, film-coated, capsule shaped tablets, engraved with “120” on one side, 19.2 ± 0.2 mm in length, 8.2 ± 0.2 mm in width, 6.1 ± 0.2 mm in thickness.
Febuxostat Tablets are packed in a cardboard box containing the appropriate number of transparent PVC/ PCTFE-Aluminium foil blisters (Aclar) with an instruction leaflet.
Pack sizes:
Cartons containing 28 film-coated tablets.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
United Kingdom
Accord Healthcare Limited
Sage House
319 Pinner Road
North Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 4HF
United Kingdom
Ireland
Accord Healthcare Ireland Limited
Euro House
Euro Business Park
Little Island
Cork T45 K857
Ireland
Manufacturer
Pharmathen S.A.
6 Dervenakion str.
Pallini 15351
Attiki, Greece
This leaflet was last revised in July 2020.
If you would like a leaflet with larger text, please contact +44 (0) 1271 38s2s7