Brand : BENCID (Probenecid, Benemid, Probalan)

GENERIC NAME: probenecid
BRAND NAME: Benemid

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM:

Probenecid acts on kidney tubules and increases urinary excretion of uric acid, thus lowering blood uric acid levels. It is helpful in treating patients with high uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) associated with gouty arthritis attacks.

Probenecid also blocks the urinary excretion of penicillin and related antibiotics, thus maintaining higher levels of the antibiotics in the blood. It is a useful adjunct in increasing the effectiveness of penicillin type antibiotics in treating certain infections, such as gonorrhea.

PRESCRIPTION: yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: yes

PREPARATIONS: tablets: 0.5g

STORAGE: Store at room temperature, sealed container.

PRESCRIBED FOR:

Probenecid is used for the treatment of hyperuricemia associated with gout. It is also combined with penicillin and related antibiotics to increase the effectiveness of the antibiotics in treating infections, such as different forms of gonorrhea.

DOSING:

Should be taken with food. Increased urinary excretion of uric acid can lead to the formation of uric acid kidney stones, especially during periods of dehydration. Therefore, patients placed on long term probenecid should consume liberal amounts of fluid to avoid kidney stones.

DRUG INTERACTIONS:

Probenecid is avoided in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to the medication, in children under 2 years of age, and in patients with blood diseases or kidney stones. Probenecid is avoided during acute gouty arthritis attacks because it can actually make the arthritis worse. In patients with elevated uric acid levels, treatment with probenecid is usually not initiated until after the gouty arthritis is completely resolved. It is common to use colchicine (a medication effective in treating gouty arthritis) in conjunction with probenecid to avoid reactivation of the gouty arthritis.

Probenecid blocks urinary excretion, and thereby increases the blood levels and action of many medications, such as Tylenol, Indocin, Naprosyn, Ativan, Orudis, Rifadin, Meclomen, certain diabetes medications, and anesthetic agents. The doses of these medications may need to be lowered to avoid side effects and toxicity when used together with probenecid. For example, patients receiving probenecid require significantly less anesthesia drugs. Probenecid can increase the action of certain diabetes medicines, such as Diabinese, resulting in abnormally low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia). In patients with existing kidney disease, using penicillin and probenecid together can result in unusually high blood penicillin levels, with resultant toxicity.

PREGNANCY: Probenecid is avoided in pregnant women.

SIDE EFFECTS:

Side effects of probenecid are uncommon and usually mild. In addition to causing kidney stones and precipitating acute gouty arthritis, side effects of probenecid include hair loss, skin rash, headache, nausea, sore gums, and fever. In rare instances, it has caused severe anemias.