Phenylbutazone Description

Generic Name : PHENYLBUTAZONE

Pronunciation : (fen ill byoo' ta zone)

Trade Name(s) : Zolandin

Why it is prescribed: Phenylbutazone relieves the pain, fever, redness, stiffness, tenderness, and swelling caused by certain kinds of arthritis, including gout attacks.

When it is to be taken:
1. Phenylbutazone usually is taken three or four times a day for arthritis or every four hours until relief from a gout attack is obtained.
2. Follow the instructions on your prescription label, and ask your doctor to explain any part that you do not understand.
3. Although arthritis symptoms may improve within three to four days, you may have to take this drug for one week before feeling its full effect.
4. Do not take it for more than one week, especially if you are over 60 years of age, without consulting you doctor.

How it should be taken: Phenylbutazone comes in tablets and capsules. It should be taken with meals, milk, or an antacid. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Phenylbutazone can affect mental alertness and coordination. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery until you know how it affects you.
2. Take only the amount of mediation prescribed. Do not take more. If you think you need more to relieve your symptoms, contact your doctor.
3. Tell your doctor if you smoke or change your smoking habits while taking phenylbutazone. Your dose may need to be adjusted.
4. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your dose may have to be adjusted, and you may have blood and urine tests periodically.
5. If you forget to take a dose, take the missed dose as soon as your remember it. However, if you remember a missed dose near the time you are to take the next dose, take only the scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose.

Side Effects :
1. Nausea, vomiting, indigestion. Take the drug with meals, milk, or antacids.
2. Headache, dizziness, drowsiness. Contact your doctor if these effects persist.
3. Bloody or black stools, chills, fever, sore that, yellowing of the eyes and skin, unusual bleeding or bruising, difficult urintation, skin rash, mouth sores, unusual tiredness. Stop taking this medication and call your doctor.
4. Sudden weight gain, swelling of feet and ankles, difficulty breathing. Contact your doctor. Use less salt in your diet.

Other Precautions :
1. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription you are taking, especially anticoagulants, diabetes medicine, and phenytoin.
2. Do not take any other drugs, including aspirin, while you are taking phenylbutazone without consulting your doctor.
3. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should tell their doctors.
4. Tell your doctor if you ever had stomach ulcers, bleeding from the stomach or rectum, severe indigestion, kidney disease, liver disease, or heart failure.
5. If you ever had a bad reaction to aspirin or arthritis medications, tell your doctor before taking phenylbutazone.
6. Do not allow anyone else to take this medication.

Storage Conditions : Keep this medication in the container it came in and out of the reach of children.