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I have a very bad sinus infection right now and was just given Augmentin 875mg to take for the next 2 weeks. This has been a recurring frustration of mine over the past few months and I've been on numerous medicines for the sinus infections. My doctor feels the Augmentin in this dose should knock it out once & for all.
My concern is this
When I check on the side effects there is a caution about taking Augmentin & other Penicillin type antibiotics while taking allopurinol. I have been on Allopurinol for about a month. Does anyone have any advice or comments about this topic? I was thinking about stopping the allopurinol while on the Augmentin.
I haven't had a gout attack since the one I had during the first week of August.
From the interaction checker at drugs.com:
Coadministration of allopurinol with ampicillin or amoxicillin may increase the risk of skin rash. The mechanism of interaction is unknown, and it is unclear whether the condition of hyperuricemia or the actual exposure to allopurinol is responsible. In a retrospective study, 15 out of 67 patients (22%) who took ampicillin with allopurinol developed a skin rash, compared to 94 out of 1257 patients (7.5%) who took ampicillin without allopurinol. An updated study by the same group of investigators consisted of 252 patients who took ampicillin with allopurinol and 4434 who took ampicillin alone. The incidence of rash was 13.9% in the allopurinol group and 5.7% in the ampicillin-only group. Similar results were reported for amoxicillin. Specifically, 8 out of 36 patients (22%) treated concomitantly with allopurinol developed a rash, compared to 52 out of 887 patients (5.9%) on amoxicillin without allopurinol. There is probably no need to avoid concomitant use of these drugs in patients who otherwise can take these drugs individually.
If you stop allopurinol, your uric acid levels are going to rise again, but only you can weigh up the risks.
One thing is absolutely certain – if you do take the Augmentin you must take the full course. Do not be tempted to stop once the sinus clears. If you do not take the full course, the infection will come back even stronger, and you will never get rid of it.
Thanks for you reply. Getting rid of the sinus infection is the number one priority right now. It's been going on for too long.
Medicine interaction is a real bummer.
Drugs.com shows 6 major interactors with Augmentin but allopurinol is not among them, and 58 moderate interactors with the drug…no allopurinol.
They mention the SLIGHT INTERACTION with allopurinol, an increased risk of skin rash that GP has spelled out and they conclude:
There is probably no need to avoid concomitant use of these drugs in patients who otherwise can take these drugs individually.
Don't stop the allopurinol.
The combo drug augmentin is reserved for proven or highly suspected infection with susceptible bacteria…it should NOT be used for a case of sinusitis unless a sample was sent to the lab and grown to show the susceptible bacteria,
Sinusitis – caused by β-lactamase – producing strains of H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis.
for any other bacteria or ANY viral sinusitus it is useless…and worse, might help develop resistance to the drug in other bacteria floating around the body. I wonder why doctors are so averse to sending swab samples to the lab? But they are.
Hit the wrong button & lost the post I was typing….
This is the 3rd antibiotic in less that two months for my sinus infections. Bactrim was the first one- bad side effects. Then it was Cipro which worked ok. Now two weeks later it's Augmentin. This bout of sinusitis is worse than the other two. About 2 months before that it was a Z-Pack. Now I'm scheduled for a CT scan to find out what's going on up there. Wish me luck.
headusher
Interestingly, I am taking Augmentin for a sinus infection as well. My doctor told me not to stop the allopurinol. He simply said do not take the antibiotic at the same time as the allopurinol.
Personally, I believe that antibiotics should only be available in hospitals, where they can make absolutely certain that infection has gone before medication is stopped.
Keeping warm and well hydrated helps the body fight infections. Inappropriate antibiotics just make the bugs stronger.
Please note, this is just my personal opinion – I'm happy to be disagreed with, as long as it's respectful.
usher,
This is the 3rd antibiotic in less that two months for my sinus infections. Bactrim was the first one- bad side effects.
That's pretty good evidence that your sinus problem is NOT bacterial.
I'm back. Been busy with getting ready for the holidays and cleaning up after our 18″ snowstorm last weekend. Finally got rid of my sinus infection. Now I have to get a CT scan. I did stop the allopurinol for a few weeks while on the antibiotic. I was a liitle hesitant after reading all the warnings about taking both at the same time.
No gout problems at all since my episode in August. Maybe just a result of the broken leg. I'll keep ya all posted.
Have a great holiday season everyone.
headusher
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