Febuxostat is in a class of medications called xanthine oxidase inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of uric acid that is made in the body. Febuxostat is used to prevent gout attacks but not to treat them once they occur.

How does febuxostat lower uric acid?

The half-life is approximately five to eight hours. Over a 24-hour period, febuxostat results in a dose-dependent decrease in serum uric acid concentrations. As a result, total daily urinary uric acid excretions are reduced with an increase in total daily urinary xanthine excretion.

What is the difference between febuxostat and allopurinol?

Allopurinol is a purine analogue that is subject to being metabolized by many enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine synthesis metabolism, whereas febuxostat is not a purine analogue.