Febucip 40 (Febuxostat 40mg) Tablets

Febucip general information

What is Febucip used for?

Febucip tablets 40mg are used to treat gout, which covers several conditions caused by chronic hyperuricaemia (abnormally high levels of uric acid in the blood), resulting in the deposition of uric acid crystals throughout the body.  These conditions include idiopathic gout (without known cause) or gouty arthritis, in which uric acid crystals are deposited in joints causing pain and swelling; kidney stones or uric acid nephrolithiasis (uric acid crystals in the kidney) and skin tophi (uric acid crystals beneath the skin), causing redness, pain and swelling.  Hyperuricaemia is often a result of high protein diet, high alcohol intake and obesity, but can also be due to other factors.  These include certain medication, such as diuretics, kidney disease, which reduces uric acid excretion, and chemotherapy for blood cancers, which causes increase of blood uric acid levels as cancer cells are destroyed.  Over production of uric acid may also be caused by certain tumours with high cell turnover rates like leukaemia or lymphoma.  Risk factors for gout include age and family history.  Febucip 40 reduces blood levels of uric acid, which prevents crystal formation and reduces risk of gout developing and recurrent flares of gout attacks, as well as relieving symptoms.  Febucip 40 is not recommended for the treatment of asymptomatic hyperuricaemia.

How does Febucip work?

Febucip tablets 40mg contain febuxostat, a 2-arylthiazole derivative and potent, non-purine, selective inhibitor of the enzyme xanthine oxidase that plays an important role in the production of uric acid, which is the end product of purine metabolism.  Purines are obtained from the diet mainly from meat, meat products and seafood, but are also synthesised in the body.  Xanthine oxidase catalyses the conversion of hypoxanthine to xanthine and xanthine to uric acid, the final oxidation product of purine metabolism excreted in the urine.  Febuxostat Febucip in tablets 40mg works by selectively and irreversibly blocking the active site of the enzyme and does not inhibit other enzymes involved in purine or pyrimidine metabolism.  It inhibits both the oxidized and reduced forms of xanthine oxidase, which contributes to its potency.  Inhibition of xanthine oxidase by febuxostat in Febucip 40 reduces the levels of uric acid in the blood and this prevents the build-up of uric acid and thereby reduces the amount of uric acid crystals that are deposited in the joints, reducing the frequency of attacks of gout and acute gouty arthritis to relieve painful symptoms and improve joint mobility.  Febucip tablets 40mg also allow skin tophi to heal and resolve and prevents the formation of kidney stones, which thereby prevents kidney damage. 

What does Febucip contain?

Febucip 40 tablets contain the active ingredient febuxostat 40mg, used to treat gout caused by chronic hyperuricaemia. 

Treating gout with Febucip

Febucip tablets 40mg contain febuxostat that is used reduce levels of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricaemia) which can lead to deposition of uric acid crystals in joints and throughout the body.  This is the cause of the condition known as gout and includes idiopathic gout (without known cause) or gouty arthritis, in which uric acid crystals are deposited in joints causing pain and swelling with loss of joint mobility, and skin tophi (uric acid crystals beneath the skin), causing redness, pain and swelling; causing redness, pain and swelling.  Risk factors for gout include age and family history, high protein diet, high alcohol intake and obesity, but can also be due to other factors, including include certain medication, such as diuretics and kidney disease.  Febuxostat in Febucip tablets 40mg works inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase that plays an important role in the production of uric acid, which is the end product of purine metabolism.  This reduces the levels of uric acid in the blood and prevents the build-up of uric acid, thereby reducing the amount of uric acid crystals that are deposited in the joints.  This reduces the frequency of attacks and recurrent flares of gout to relieve painful symptoms and improve joint mobility.  Febucip 40 also allows skin tophi to heal.

Febucip for kidney stones

Febucip tablets 40mg contain febuxostat that is used reduce levels of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricaemia) that can lead to deposition of uric acid crystals in the kidney, resulting in kidney stones or uric acid nephrolithiasis.  Febuxostat in Febucip tablets 40mg works inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase that plays an important role in the production of uric acid, which is the end product of purine metabolism.  This reduces the levels of uric acid in the blood and prevents the build-up of uric acid in the blood, which helps prevent deposition of uric acid crystals in the kidneys. 

What are the side effects of Febucip?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Febucip tablets 40mg include diarrhoea, nausea, headache, rash and oedema.  Flares of gout can occur at the start of treatment as a result of mobilisation of uric acid from the tissues. 

When should Febucip not be used?

You should not use Febucip tablets 40mg if you:

• are allergic to febuxostat or any ingredients in Febucip
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have ischaemic heart disease, congestive heart failure or a history of atherosclerotic disease
• have had an organ transplant
• have a thyroid disorder
• have Lesch-Nyhan syndrome a rare condition that causes greatly increased formation of uric acid and can result in kidney stones
• are taking medicines that interact with Febucip, including theophylline for asthma, the immunosuppressants mercaptopurine and azathioprine, NSAIDs like naproxen for inflammation, probenecid for gout,

What medications interact with Febucip?

Several medications interact with Febucip tablets 40mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Febucip or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that affect Febucip: NSAIDs like naproxen for inflammation, probenecid for gout
• Drugs that are affected by Febucip: theophylline for asthma, the immunosuppressants mercaptopurine and azathioprine,

How should Febucip be taken?

You should take your Febucip tablets 40mg swallowed whole with a glass of water, with or without food.  There should be a reduction of blood levels of uric acid within two weeks, and blood levels should be monitored.  The dose you take and for how long should be as recommended by your doctor. 

How long should you take Febucip?

You should continue to take your Febucip tablets 40mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Febucip

If you miss a dose of Febucip tablets 40mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.  

How should Febucip be stored?

You should store your Febucip tablets 40mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.