Lesinurad

Lesinurad is a prescription medication used in combination with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol or febuxostat) to treat high blood uric acid levels in people with gout. Lesinurad belongs to a group of drugs called urate transporter inhibitors. These work by helping the kidney excrete uric acid.

This medication comes in tablet form and is typically taken once a day by mouth in the morning with food and water.

Common side effects of lesinurad include headache, flu, and heart burn.

Lesinurad is a prescription medication used in combination with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol or febuxostat) to treat high blood uric acid levels in people with gout.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Lesinurad may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Zurampic

Serious side effects have been reported with lesinurad. See the "Drug Precautions" section.

Common side effects of lesinurad include the following:

• headache
• flu
• higher levels of blood creatinine (a measure of kidney function)
• heart burn (acid reflux)

This is not a complete list of lesinurad side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• medicine for heart problems or high blood pressure
• medicine for high blood cholesterol
• antifungals and antibiotics
• valproic acid
• aspirin
• other medicines used to treat gout
• hormonal contraceptives. Women who use birth control medicines containing hormones to prevent pregnancy should use a back-up method of birth control during treatment with lesinurad. 

This is not a complete list of lesinurad drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with lesinurad including the following: 

• Heart problems. People who take lesinurad can have serious heart problems including heart attack and stroke.
• Kidney problems. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function before starting lesinurad and monitor during your treatment. 

Make sure to take lesinurad with xanthine oxidase inhibitor such as allopurinol or febuxostat. Lesinurad should not be taken alone. Taking lesinurad alone can hurt your kidneys. 

Make sure to remain hydrated and avoid becoming dehydrated. It is recommended you drink 2 liters (68 ounces) of fluid each day to stay hydrated. 

Do not take lesinurad if you:

• are allergic to lesinurad or to any of its ingredients (include for all meds)
• have severe kidney problems, received a kidney transplant or you are on dialysis
• have a fast breakdown of cancer cells that can lead to high uric acid (Tumor lysis syndrome)
• have a rare inherited condition that causes too much uric acid in the blood (Lesch Nyhan syndrome)

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of lesinurad, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking lesinurad, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to lesinurad or to any of its ingredients
• have severe kidney problems, received a kidney transplant or you are on dialysis
• have a fast breakdown of cancer cells that can lead to high uric acid (Tumor lysis syndrome)
• have a rare inherited condition that causes too much uric acid in the blood (Lesch Nyhan syndrome)
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with lesinurad. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if lesinurad crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using lesinurad.

Take lesinurad exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in tablet form and is typically taken once a day by mouth in the morning. 

Take lesinurad with your dose of xanthine oxidase inhibitor such as allopurinol or febuxostat. Do not take more than 1 lesinurad tablet each day.

Take lesinurad with food and water. Drink 2 liters (68 ounces) of fluid each day to stay hydrated.

If you miss taking the dose of lesinurad in the morning, do not take lesinurad later in the day. Wait and take your next dose of lesinurad in the morning with your dose of xanthine oxidase inhibitor such as allopurinol or febuxostat. Do not double your dose of lesinurad.

Your gout may get worse (flare up) when you first start taking lesinurad. Do not stop taking lesinurad even if you have a flare. Your healthcare provider may give you other medicines to help prevent your gout flares.

Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working before and during your treatment with lesinurad. 

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated

• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

The recommended dose of Zurampic (lesinurad) is 200 mg once daily. 

If you take too much lesinurad, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store lesinurad at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Keep lesinurad away from light.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.

WARNING: RISK OF ACUTE RENAL FAILURE, MORE COMMON WHEN USED WITHOUT A XANTHINE OXIDASE INHIBITOR

Acute renal failure has occurred with Zurampic and was more common when Zurampic was given alone. Zurampic should be used in combination with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor.