Compare Benemid vs. Allopurinol
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers uric acid levels and strengthens penicillin's effect.
Benemid (probenecid) can be used to lower high uric acid levels in people with gout, but it is not a first-choice treatment because it takes a long time to kick in.
Lowers uric acid levels in blood, and prevents gout flare-ups.
Zyloprim (allopurinol) works well to prevent gout attacks and is cheaper than some alternatives, but it takes a few weeks to start working.
●●●●●
3.7/ 5 average rating with 21 reviewsforAllopurinol
Upsides
- Benemid (probenecid) is available in generic.
- It can raise levels of certain antibiotics in the body and make those antibiotics work better.
- It is recommended as a second-choice medicine to help lower uric acid levels if they're not going down fast enough.
- Zyloprim (allopurinol) works well to lower uric acid in the body.
- It is available as a generic medication.
Downsides
- Benemid (probenecid) is not a first-choice treatment for gout because it takes a while to kick in.
- It doesn't work well in people who are using aspirin, or have kidney problems.
- You have to take Benemid (probenecid) 2 times a day. Other stronger drugs for gout are only taken 1 time a day.
- Zyloprim (allopurinol) can raise the number of gout attacks in the first few weeks.
- It can take 2 to 6 weeks to feel the full effects of Zyloprim (allopurinol).
- Kidney stones can form while taking Zyloprim (allopurinol), so you need to drink a lot of fluids to help prevent this.
Used for
- Gout
- High uric acid
- Increases effectiveness of penicillin
- Gout
- High uric acid in cancer
- Recurrent kidney stones
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$55.13
Find instant savings near youLowest price
$284.02
Find instant savings near youWant to save even more money?
Sign up now for a 30-day trial and save up to 95% at CVS, Kroger, Albertsons, and other pharmacies.
Learn more
Reviews
Not enough review data.Leave a review
21 reviews so far
71%
saidit'sworth it
52%
saiditworked well
5%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Zyloprim (allopurinol)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Benemid (probenecid) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
The Zyloprim (allopurinol) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Kidney stones
- Blood disorders
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
- Gout attacks
- Taking Benemid (probenecid) for the first few weeks
- Kidney problems
- History of kidney problems
- Stomach ulcers
- History of esophagus or stomach problems, including ulcers
- More gout attacks
- Kidney stones
- History of kidney stones
- Skin rash
- Liver disease
- Sleepiness or dizziness
- Taking other medications that also cause sleepiness
- Recreational drug use
- Excessive alcohol use
- Elderly