Two medicines, side by side
Allopurinol vs febuxostat
Allopurinol and febuxostat are both labeled for gout. Drugs@FDA records approvals of allopurinol since 1966 and of febuxostat since 2009. Pharmacies paid $0.0315 per allopurinol 100 mg tablet and $0.191 per febuxostat 40 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Allopurinol, “Allopurinol is a structural analogue of the natural purine base, hypoxanthine.”; Febuxostat, “ULORIC, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, achieves its therapeutic effect by decreasing serum uric acid.”
Check it at the source: the allopurinol FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 21, 2026); the febuxostat FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 24, 2025).
Highlights of the allopurinol record
Allopurinol (Zyloprim) · label of May 21, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsAllopurinol tablet is indicated for: The management of adults with signs and symptoms of primary or secondary gout (acute attacks, tophi, joint destruction, uric acid lithiasis, and/or nephropathy) The management of adult and pediatric patients with leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumor malignancies who are receiving cancer therapy which causes elevations of serum and urinary uric acid levels The management of adult […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1966
- Generic labelers
- 44 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0315 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 6
Highlights of the febuxostat record
Febuxostat (Uloric) · label of December 24, 2025
CARDIOVASCULAR DEATH Gout patients with established cardiovascular (CV) disease treated with ULORIC had a higher rate of CV death compared to those treated with allopurinol in a CV outcomes study [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Consider the risks and benefits of ULORIC when deciding to prescribe or continue patients on ULORIC.
Used for
From the label: indicationsULORIC is a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor indicated for the chronic management of hyperuricemia in adult patients with gout who have an inadequate response to a maximally titrated dose of allopurinol, who are intolerant to allopurinol, or for whom treatment with allopurinol is not advisable. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 13, 2009
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.191 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 5
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Allopurinol label of May 21, 2026, Febuxostat label of December 24, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do allopurinol and febuxostat differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Allopurinol, “Allopurinol is a structural analogue of the natural purine base, hypoxanthine.”; Febuxostat, “ULORIC, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, achieves its therapeutic effect by decreasing serum uric acid.”
Only the febuxostat label carries a boxed warning.
Both are in FDA's class xanthine oxidase inhibitors.
Half-life, in each label's words: Allopurinol, “Elimination The half-life of allopurinol and oxipurinol are approximately 1 hour to 2 hours and 15 hours following oral …”; Febuxostat, “Febuxostat has an apparent mean terminal elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) of approximately 5 to 8 hours.”
Generics: allopurinol since 1985; febuxostat since 2019 (Drugs@FDA).
| Allopurinol | Febuxostat | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Gout | Gout |
| Pharmacologic class | Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor | Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Allopurinol is a structural analogue of the natural purine base, hypoxanthine. Allopurinol acts on purine catabolism, without disrupting the biosynthesis of purines. | ULORIC, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, achieves its therapeutic effect by decreasing serum uric acid. ULORIC is not expected to inhibit other enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine synthesis and metabolism at therapeutic concentrations. |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination The half-life of allopurinol and oxipurinol are approximately 1 hour to 2 hours and 15 hours following oral dose of allopurinol, respectively. | Febuxostat has an apparent mean terminal elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) of approximately 5 to 8 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 19, 1966 | February 13, 2009 |
| First generic approved | December 10, 1985 | July 1, 2019 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 44 labelers | 23 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0315 per tablet (Allopurinol 100 mg tablet) | $0.191 per tablet (Febuxostat 40 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -20% | -19% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | A presentation being discontinued | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 5 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 155,998 | 16,668 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Febuxostat label, boxed warningULORIC should only be used in patients who have an inadequate response to a maximally titrated dose of allopurinol, who are intolerant to allopurinol, or for whom treatment with allopurinol is not advisable [see Indications and Usage (1) ].
Febuxostat label, warnings and precautionsBecause of the increased risk of CV death, ULORIC should only be used in patients who have an inadequate response to a maximally titrated dose of allopurinol, who are intolerant to allopurinol, or for whom treatment with allopurinol is not advisable [see Indications and Usage(1) ].
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to allopurinol
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions