Benemid (probenecid)

What is Benemid (probenecid)?

Benemid (probenecid) helps your body pass uric acid out through the urine, which lowers the levels of uric acid in the body.

Benemid (probenecid) is used to treat gout and gouty arthritis. Benemid (probenecid) is also sometimes given together with penicillin antibiotics to make them more effective.

Benemid (probenecid) may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

How Taken

Use Benemid as directed by your doctor.

Take Benemid tablets by mouth.

Swallow the tablets with a drink of water.

Take your doses at regular intervals.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Benemid.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, or stomach upset.

Possible Side Effects

Check with your doctor if any of these most common side effects persist or become bothersome:

dizziness; flushing; hair loss; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; sore gums; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these severe side effects occur:

severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood in the urine; chills; dark urine; decreased or increased urination; fever; lower back, lower stomach, genital, or inner thigh pain; persistent sore throat; severe or persistent nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; worsening gout; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not use Benemid if:

you are allergic to any ingredient in Benemid;

you have blood problems or kidney stones caused by uric acid;

the patient is a child younger than 2 years of age;

you are taking salicylates (e.g., aspirin).

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Important :

Benemid may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Benemid. Using Benemid alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.

Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Benemid.

Diabetes patients - Benemid may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.

Benemid may interfere with some lab tests (e.g., blood or hemoglobin urine tests, theophylline levels). Make sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are using Benemid.

Lab tests, including tests for sugar in the urine, may be required to monitor your progress. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.

Use of Benemid is not recommended in children younger than 2 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you become pregnant while taking Benemid, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Benemid during pregnancy. Benemid is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Benemid, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Benemid (probenecid)