Probenecid

• The medication is generally well-tolerated. The most common side effects are:
• Loss of appetite
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting

If you have G6PD (glucose-6-phospahate dehydrogenase) deficiency, please let your doctor know about it as probenecid has to be used with caution, if at all, or your doctor may want to avoid it altogether if safer alternative is available.

As using probenecid may increase the risk of urinary tract stone formation in certain patients, please let your doctor know if you have a history of kidney stone.

​Your doctor would normally start it at a low dose and gradually increase the dose if necessary. This helps to make you tolerate the medication better. This also lessens the likelihood of the initial gout flares.

Be patient and take it at the dose recommended by your doctor. The benefits are slow to come.

As probenecid works by making you pass out more uric acid in your urine, you need to drink about 8 - 9 glasses of water throughout the whole day IF you are not told to restrict water intake by any of your doctors. This is to prevent the uric acid from becoming too concentrated in the urine which may lead to stone formation.

It is advisable to take probenecid with/immediately after meals to prevent nausea or vomiting.

If you forget to take you medication at the usual time, you can take it as soon as you remember about it. But if it is near the time for the next dose when this happens, just skip the missed dose and take the next dose as usual. Do not take more than the usual scheduled dose to make up for the missed dose.

When do I seek IMMEDIATE medical attention?

• As with any other medications, a very small number of patients using probenecid may experience RARE but serious side effects. Do seek medical attention if the following occur:
•  Wheezing or trouble breathing
•  Swelling around the eyes or eyelids
•  Skin rash, severe itching or hives
•  Unexplained fever or sore throat
•  Bloody urine or painful urination
•  Feeling very tired or weak

Can I take other MEDICINES or SUPPLEMENTS?

• Your doctor may prescribe pain-relieving treatments to reduce inflammation and pain quickly and to prevent gout flare during the initial treatment.
• Always check with the doctor or pharmacist first before self-treatment with any over-the-counter medicines.
• DO NOT take any supplements, alternative or herbal medicines without informing your doctor or pharmacist.

What is the TIME to EFFECT?

• It usually takes months to notice any improvement in symptoms after starting probenecid.

What special DIETARY instructions should I follow?

• Maintain adequate hydration (2-3 liters of fluid a day, unless otherwise advised by your doctor).

Can I get PREGNANT or BREASTFEED?

• Please tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding, pregnant or likely to become pregnant during the course of treatment with the medication.

In SUMMARY… what you need to know about Probenecid?

• Take probenecid approximately at the same time every day, unless instructed otherwise by your doctor.
• Always come for your BLOOD TESTS on the scheduled date.
• Beware of the SIDE EFFECTS and when to get immediate medical attention.
• Never take medicines, supplements or herbal treatments OVER-THE-COUNTER without checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.
• If you have further questions about Probenecid, please call ______________________ (office number) to discuss with your doctor / pharmacist / specialty nurse (please circle as appropriate).