allopurinol
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: * A pharmaceutical compound: A specific drug, chemically known as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, used primarily to lower uric acid levels in the blood.
Usage
- Medical Treatment: "Allopurinol" is prescribed to manage conditions caused by high uric acid. Its primary use is to prevent gout attacks and kidney stones. It is not typically used to treat an acute gout attack.
- Example: The doctor started him on a daily dose of allopurinol to manage his chronic gout.
- Example: Patients taking allopurinol require regular blood tests to monitor their uric acid levels and kidney function.
Advanced Usage
- Chemical Inhibitor: In biochemistry, "allopurinol" is recognized as a potent inhibitor of the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which is responsible for producing uric acid.
- Example: The study examined the mechanism by which allopurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase.
Variants and Related Words
- Zyloprim: A well-known trade name for the drug allopurinol.
- Febuxostat: Another drug in the same class (xanthine oxidase inhibitor) used for similar conditions.
- Uricosuric: A different class of drugs (e.g., probenecid) that lower uric acid by increasing its excretion in urine, contrasted with allopurinol which reduces its production.
Synonyms
- Xanthine oxidase inhibitor (describes its drug class and primary action).
Notes on Meaning
- Therapeutic vs. Acute: It is crucial to distinguish that "allopurinol" refers to a long-term preventive medication. It is not a pain reliever for an acute gout flare.
Noun
- a drug (trade name Zyloprim) used to treat gout and other conditions in which there is an excessive buildup of uric acid