What is "allopurinol"

n. A drug used primarily to treat hyperuricemia and its complications.

n. a drug (trade name Zyloprim) used to treat gout and other conditions in which there is an excessive buildup of uric acid [syn: Zyloprim]

Allopurinol, sold under the brand name Zyloprim and generics, is a medication used primarily to treat excess uric acid in the blood and its complications, including chronic gout. It is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor and is administered orally.

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system.