Puricos contains allopurinol 300 mg. It lowers uric acid to prevent gout attacks — it is a preventive medicine taken every day, long term. It does not treat a gout flare, and it can trigger one when first started, which is why it is begun carefully.
What is Puricos?
Puricos contains allopurinol, commonly as 100 mg and 300 mg tablets. It is a Schedule 3 medicine, also sold as Zyloric and Zyloprim.
Allopurinol blocks xanthine oxidase, the enzyme that produces uric acid as the body breaks down purines. Less uric acid is made, the level in the blood falls, and over months the crystals that have deposited in joints gradually dissolve.
Gout is a crystal disease. When blood uric acid stays high, needle-shaped urate crystals form in and around joints. An attack happens when those crystals provoke an intense inflammatory response — sudden, severe pain, redness and swelling, classically in the big toe.
That mechanism explains the two most important facts about this medicine:
Allopurinol does not treat an attack. It has no anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving action. A flare is treated with an anti-inflammatory such as indometacin, with colchicine, or with a steroid.
Allopurinol prevents future attacks by removing the cause. It works over months as the crystal deposits dissolve — and it only keeps working while you keep taking it.
What is Puricos commonly used for?
- Preventing recurrent gout attacks — its main use.
- Chronic gout with tophi, the visible urate deposits that form under the skin in long-standing disease.
- High uric acid (hyperuricaemia) where it is causing problems.
- Uric acid kidney stones, and preventing them.
- Tumour lysis syndrome, preventing a surge of uric acid when cancer treatment breaks down many cells at once.
- Some enzyme disorders causing uric acid overproduction.
The distinction between treating and preventing is where most confusion about gout lies. People often take allopurinol only when a flare starts, which is doing exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time — it will not help the pain, and starting it mid-flare can make the attack worse.
It is a daily, indefinite medicine. Gout is a chronic metabolic condition, and stopping allopurinol lets uric acid rise again and the attacks return. That it is not curing anything is not a reason to stop; it is controlling something.
Diet helps but rarely suffices. Reducing alcohol — especially beer — sugary drinks, and organ meats and shellfish does lower uric acid somewhat. But diet alone usually cannot bring it low enough in someone with established gout, and gout is substantially genetic rather than simply a consequence of eating badly.
How Puricos fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | When it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Uric acid–lowering | Allopurinol (Puricos), febuxostat | Daily, long term, to prevent attacks |
| Anti-inflammatories | Indometacin (Betacin), diclofenac, naproxen | Treating an acute flare |
| Colchicine | Colcin, Kolcrys | Treating a flare; also low-dose flare prevention when starting allopurinol |
| Corticosteroids | Prednisone | Flares where NSAIDs are unsuitable |
| Simple analgesics | Paracetamol (Donapan) | Additional pain relief |
Many people with gout end up on two medicines: allopurinol daily, plus something kept at home for a flare. See the pain, inflammation and musculoskeletal medicines hub.
What to check before using Puricos
Do not start it during an acute attack unless your doctor specifically directs it. Starting mid-flare can prolong or worsen the attack. Treatment is usually begun once the flare has settled.
Expect flares in the first months, and do not stop because of them. As uric acid falls, existing crystals begin to dissolve and can shed into the joint, triggering an attack. This is well recognised and it is why doctors often prescribe low-dose colchicine or an anti-inflammatory alongside for the first three to six months. It is not a sign the medicine is failing — it is a sign it is working, and it settles.
Take it after food, with plenty of water.
Tell your prescriber or pharmacist if:
- You have kidney disease. This is important — allopurinol is cleared by the kidneys and the amount is usually reduced.
- You have liver disease.
- You are of Han Chinese, Thai or Korean ancestry. A gene variant, HLA-B*5801, is more common in these groups and is strongly associated with severe allopurinol hypersensitivity. Testing is available and worth discussing.
- You take azathioprine or mercaptopurine. This is a serious interaction — allopurinol blocks their breakdown and can cause severe toxicity.
- You take warfarin, amoxicillin (rash is more likely), a diuretic, or an ACE inhibitor.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Expect blood tests — uric acid to check the target is being reached, plus kidney and liver function.
Follow the dispensing label. This page does not set doses.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
A rash means stop and seek advice immediately. Allopurinol is associated with allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome and with Stevens-Johnson syndrome — rare, but among the more serious medicine reactions. Stop the tablet and contact a doctor the same day for any rash, and seek emergency care for a rash that blisters or peels, sores in the mouth or eyes, or a rash with fever and swollen glands. Do not restart it afterwards unless a specialist advises.
Do not stop it because you had a flare. That is the commonest reason allopurinol treatment fails.
Do not stop it because you have had no attacks. No attacks is the medicine working.
Ask about your target uric acid level. Effective gout treatment aims at a specific blood level, and many people are left on a starting amount that never reaches it. If you still get attacks after a year, ask whether your uric acid is at target and whether the amount should be increased.
Reduce alcohol, especially beer, and sugary drinks — both raise uric acid.
Seek urgent medical attention for any rash, particularly one that blisters or peels; sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals; a rash with fever or swollen glands; yellowing of the skin or eyes; unusual bruising or bleeding; a sore throat with fever; or a significant reduction in urine.
Related medicine guides
- Browse Pain, Inflammation & Musculoskeletal Medicines guides
- Read: Prednisone used for
- Read: Donapan used for
Frequently asked questions
What is Puricos 300 mg used for? Preventing gout attacks by lowering uric acid. It contains allopurinol and is taken daily, long term.
Will it help my gout attack now? No. Allopurinol has no pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory effect. A flare is treated with an anti-inflammatory, colchicine or a steroid.
Why did I get a gout attack after starting it? As uric acid falls, existing crystals dissolve and can shed into the joint. This is expected in the first months, and doctors often prescribe something alongside to cover it. Do not stop.
How long do I take it for? Indefinitely, in most cases. Gout is a chronic condition, and stopping lets uric acid rise and the attacks return.
Can I control gout with diet instead? Diet helps but rarely enough on its own. Gout is substantially genetic, and established gout usually needs medication to reach a safe uric acid level.
I have developed a rash. What should I do? Stop the tablet and contact a doctor the same day. Allopurinol rashes can be serious, and a blistering rash or one with fever needs emergency care.