Compare Uloric vs. Benemid

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.

Uloric (febuxostat)

Prescription only

Benemid (probenecid)

Prescription only

Stops gout attacks.

Uloric (febuxostat) is a medication you take once daily for gout, but it takes a few weeks to kick in.

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.

Upsides

Uloric (febuxostat) can be used to lower uric acid if Zyloprim (allopurinol) doesn't work.
You only need to take Uloric (febuxostat) once a day.
People with mild to moderate kidney disease can use Uloric (febuxostat).

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.

Downsides

You can have more gout attacks in the first few weeks of taking Uloric (febuxostat).
While taking Uloric (febuxostat), you need to drink a lot of fluids to stop kidney stones from forming.
You'll have to get your blood checked often with Uloric (febuxostat) therapy.
Uloric (febuxostat) doesn't come in generic, so it can be more expensive.

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.

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