Benemid belongs to a class of drugs known as uricosurics. It lowers high levels of uric acid in your body by helping the kidneys to get rid of uric acid. When uric acid levels get too high, crystals can form in the joints, causing gout. Lowering uric acid levels may also help your kidneys. Benemid is used to prevent gout and gouty arthritis. It will not treat a sudden/severe attack of gout and may make it worse. Benemid is sometimes used along with penicillin antibiotics to increase antibiotic blood levels. This increase makes the antibiotic work better at treating certain infections. Probenecid works by decreasing the kidneys' ability to remove the antibiotic from the body.
Take Benemid exactly as prescribed by your doctor. To prevent gout, take this medication by mouth, usually twice daily with food or antacids to reduce stomach upset. The usual adult dose for hyperuricemia is 500 mg twice daily and the maximum dose is 2 grams daily. When combined with penicillin type antibiotics to treat infections, the usual dose is 500 mg 4 times daily. It is recommended to drink a full glass of water with each dose and at least another 8 glasses a day while taking this drug in order to prevent kidney stones.
Before taking Benemid you should talk with your doctor if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcer, kidney stones, cancer treatment, certain enzyme deficiency, peptic ulcer disease. This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive or perform tasks that require alertness. Limit alcoholic beverages.
Do not use Benemid if you are allergic to probenecid, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have uric acid kidney stones, gout attack or blood cell disorder (anemia, decreased white blood cells). It is not recommended in children under 2 years of age.
Possible side effect
Get emergency medical help if you have hives, dark colored urine, worsening gout symptoms, yellowed skin, severe pain in your side or lower back, swelling, blood in your urine, confusion, weakness, difficulty breathing. Less serious side effects may include: skin rash, urinating more than usual, nausea, vomiting, itching, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, hair loss, redness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.
Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (naproxen, ketoprofen, indomethacin, meclofenamate), rifampin, lorazepam, methotrexate, diabetes medications, salicylates (aspirin), sulfa drugs, diuretics (furosemide). Interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Tell your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking.
Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Don't take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once. The overdose symptoms are loss of consciousness, nausea, seizures, vomiting, stomach upset.
Store the medicine at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store the drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.
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