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Abstract
Febuxostat is a urate-lowering therapy that is now TGA-approved and PBS-listed for long-term treatment of certain patients with chronic gout. It can be prescribed by GPs and has become the usual first alternative for allopurinol-intolerant patients, replacing uricosuric therapies.
Article Extract
Febuxostat, like allopurinol, is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that can lower urate levels in patients with gout and thus prevent acute attacks. It has become the usual first alternative for allopurinol-intolerant patients with gout. Febuxostat is funded by the PBS for patients with chronic gouty arthritis or chronic tophaceous gout (not just hyperuricaemia) who have a documented history of allopurinol hypersensitivity syndrome, intolerance to allopurinol necessitating permanent discontinuation or a medical contraindication to allopurinol.
Picture credit: © John Bavosi/SPL/Medical Images
