A Summary Of Febuxostat

3.Pharmacology
3.1.Mechanism of action Febuxostat is a non purine compound and selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase that has been developed for the treatment of hyperurecemia and gout. It has been found to have inhibitory activity for xanthine oxidase(XO)/xanthine dehydrogenase(XDH) during evaluation of a range of newly synthesized molecules. In humans, the xanthine oxidoreductase enzyme(XOR) catalyzes the last 2 steps in uric acid synthesis,the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and xanthine to uric acid. febuxostat was shown to inhibit both oxidized and reduced forms of XO unlike allopurinol or oxypurinol which binds only to one form of enzyme. Figure 3. mechanism of action of febuxostat

Febuxostat reduces the production of uric acid by non-competitively blocking the molybdenum-pterin center which is the active site on xanthine oxidase. Febuxostat does not structurally resemble purines and pyrimidines and has no significant effect on the activities of other enzymes which are involved in purine and pyrimidine metabolism. Febuxostat provides protection against hyperurecemia and acute renal failure caused by excessive release of uric acid

Some serious side effects include-cardiovascular events including myocardial infarction, liver enzyme abnormalities, numbness, weakness in extremities, shortness of breath ,joint pain , gout flares, stroke, hepatitis, hypersensitivity, cardiac arrest, sudden weight loss, sometimes discoloration and photosensitivity. Some severe allergic reactions include chills ,joint pain, fever , rashes , sore throat, hearing loss, mental damage, blurred vision, symptoms of high and low blood pressure, symptoms of liver problems (dark urine, pale stools , loss of apetite, tiredness, one sided stomach pain), unusual sweating , fainting , fast or slow heartbeat