Allopurinol is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor which is used to treat chronic gout and hyperuricaemia. It is contraindicated in acute gout since it may cause an acute exacerbation. Even in the chronic situation allopurinol may precipitate an acute episode; thus colchicine or an anti-inflammatory analgesic should be used as a prophylactic against this and continued for a month after the course has finished.
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