Definition

A medication that helps lower uric acid levels in the body, often used to treat gout.

Example

The doctor prescribed allopurinol to help manage my gout symptoms.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of allopurinol?

Yeah, I think it's something used for gout, right?

Exactly! My doctor recommended allopurinol to help lower my uric acid levels.

That sounds helpful! I hope it works for you.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Allopurinol is formed from "allo-" (meaning other or different) and "purin" (referring to purine, a type of organic compound) and the suffix "-ol" (indicating an alcohol or hydroxyl group). The word describes a substance that is a different form of purine, specifically used to reduce uric acid levels in the body.

Memory Tip

Think of 'allo-' meaning 'other' and 'purin' referring to a type of compound — this helps you remember that allopurinol is a different form of purine used to manage uric acid.

Visually Confused Words