Cloze

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Cloze

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 10/01/2026

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Cloze

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active ingredient Benzarone
Form Oral Tablet
Pharmacological class Uricosuric Agent and Vasoprotective Agent
Common purpose Managing high uric acid levels and supporting circulation
Origin Synthetic (Small molecule drug)

What is Cloze and What Type of Medicine is it?

Cloze is a single-ingredient medication containing the active substance Benzarone, a compound chemically derived from the Benzofuran family. It is recognized for its specialized dual action, classified both as a uricosuric agent (promoting uric acid excretion) and a vasoprotective agent (protecting vessel walls).

Benzarone is a synthetic small molecule drug. This medicine’s action is focused on influencing underlying systemic issues rather than simply treating symptoms alone, making it a specialized compound within the cardiovascular and metabolic therapeutic areas.

Composition, Form, and General Purpose

The medication is typically supplied as an Oral Tablet and is intended for systemic use, absorbed into the bloodstream from the digestive tract. Its composition consists of the active ingredient, Benzarone, combined with the necessary pharmaceutical excipients that form the solid dose.

The general purpose of Cloze is to maintain metabolic balance by reducing elevated levels of uric acid, a key process often required for patients managing gout. Furthermore, its vasoprotective properties contribute to the general health and improved function of blood circulation. This effect on the blood vessels is clinically recognized, establishing the medication's overall benefit in systemic health management.

What side effects are possible with Cloze?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The official safety profile for Cloze (Benzarone) details adverse reactions across various organ systems, with specific frequency classifications documented in government regulatory materials.


Documented Adverse Reactions

System-Organ Class Frequency Classification Examples of Reactions
Hepatobiliary Disorders Very Rare Cytolytic hepatitis, which may have a fulminant course
Gastrointestinal Disorders Uncommon Nausea, bloating, diarrhea
Renal and Urinary Disorders Very Rare Gout attack, urate stones, increased urination
Skin Disorders Rare to Very Rare Urticaria, allergic exanthema

Safety Considerations and Restrictions

Serious Adverse Reactions: The most clinically significant reaction listed is Cytolytic Hepatitis, classified as Very Rare. This condition necessitates mandatory regular monitoring of liver enzyme levels (transaminases) prior to and throughout therapy, as documented in regulatory prescribing information.

Time-Related Patterns: The occurrence of a gout attack or urate stone formation is associated with the beginning of treatment, reflecting the initial effects of increased uric acid excretion.

Population and Use Constraints: Cloze is contraindicated in several specific populations. This includes individuals with pre-existing hepatic disorders or severely impaired renal function. It is also contraindicated during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Furthermore, the medicine is not to be taken during an acute gout attack.

Safety Note: Benzarone is known to inhibit the CYP2C9 enzyme, a high-level safety consideration that can affect the metabolism of co-administered medicines.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory documents emphasize that for this pharmacological class, no specific poisoning pattern is known and no specific antidote is available.

Overdose exposure carries a risk of severe and life-threatening toxicity to the hepatic system. Documented serious outcomes associated with toxicity include acute hepatic injury and fulminant liver failure, which may lead to death.

Immediate Actions and Monitoring

If an overdose is suspected, or if signs of severe toxicity occur, you must seek immediate medical attention. Urgent medical help is required for symptoms such as:

  • Icterus (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • Severe nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain

Management is limited to symptomatic and supportive treatment, including actions such as resorption-reducing and elimination-accelerating measures as officially described in regulatory documentation. Hospital monitoring is required for observation, and assessment of liver enzyme values is essential following exposure.

This profile defines the regulatory necessity for immediate emergency response due to the significant, officially documented risk of acute organ failure, rather than a defined cluster of initial overdose symptoms.

Therapeutic Uses of Cloze

What Cloze Treats: Main Uses and Benefits

The core therapeutic goal of this medication is the long-term management of symptoms related to systemic imbalance caused by chronic hyperuricemia. Cloze is generally used for conditions where symptoms that interfere with daily functioning are linked to the body's inadequate ability to manage uric acid.

The medication is considered relevant for easing challenging symptoms in the long-term management of chronic hyperuricemia and gout, and is often relevant in situations with significant discomfort where additional metabolic support is needed, or when the patient needs supportive benefits for vascular health.

By assisting with the management of systemic imbalance, the medication provides support that helps ease the overall symptom burden by contributing to easing the overall symptom load by reducing the incidence of recurrent episodes of acute joint pain.

“This medication is applied in settings marked by temporary physiological imbalance, where supportive symptom management contributes to functional stability.”

Furthermore, the drug is considered relevant for easing challenging symptoms by contributing to improved comfort during periods of heightened symptoms, and may assist with maintaining functional stability related to circulation.


Quick Fact: Relief for Chronic Metabolic Imbalance

Focus Benefit Provided
Primary Condition Chronic Hyperuricemia and Gout
Symptom Relief Helps address symptom clusters that become more disruptive during flare-ups
Context of Use Long-term management and specialized support for underexcretion issues
General Benefit Contributes to improved comfort and assists with maintaining functional stability

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Official Population Eligibility for Cloze (Benzarone)

Official regulatory documentation strictly defines who can and cannot use Cloze, an adult-indicated uricosuric medication. Eligibility is severely restricted by several absolute contraindications, primarily related to organ function and reproductive status.

Category Official Regulatory Status
Populations for whom use is allowed Adult Patients with chronic hyperuricemia and gout.
Populations for whom use is not recommended Patients who are Breastfeeding (due to lack of data). Therapy should not begin during an Acute Gout Attack.
Populations for whom use is contraindicated Patients with Impaired Hepatic Function, active liver disease, or a history of Jaundice. Patients with Impaired Renal Function or a history of Kidney Stone Diathesis (urolithiasis). Pregnant women. Patients with known Hypersensitivity to the drug.
Age-related eligibility rules Use is not established and not recommended in Children and Adolescents (typically under 14 years of age).

These official statements mandate exclusion for patients with specific conditions, particularly those affecting the liver and kidneys, and establish that the drug is strictly for adult use.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Cloze Interactions with other medicines and products

This information summarizes the officially documented interaction profile for Cloze (Benzarone), based exclusively on authoritative governmental regulatory documents.

Since a detailed, verifiable interaction monograph for this product is not publicly accessible in the government regulatory sources, the profile is currently defined by the absence of specific statements in the prescribing information.

Interaction Scope Regulatory Documentation Status
Specific Interacting Medicines No specific medicines are formally listed in official regulatory documents as having documented interactions with Cloze.
Contraindicated Combinations The prescribing information does not list any substances or drug classes that are formally classified as contraindicated for co-administration.
Pharmacokinetic Alterations No explicit statements are documented regarding interactions that modify the plasma exposure (e.g., AUC, Cmax) of Cloze via specific metabolic pathways or transporters.
Timing Requirements There are no official, mandatory rules documented for the separation of administration time between Cloze and other medicines.
Food, Alcohol, Supplements No explicit interactions involving food, alcohol, or herbal products are documented in the official prescribing information.
Population-Specific Notes The regulatory text does not contain specific cautions regarding interaction relevance or severity in defined populations, such as those with hepatic impairment.

The overall structure of the official interaction profile is characterized by the absence of explicit constraints in the regulatory documentation. This means the regulatory label does not include a formal list of contraindicated drugs that must be avoided. Similarly, no specific rules for mandatory dose spacing are included. The official interaction profile, as defined by government sources, therefore focuses on adherence to the documented data rather than specific clinical restrictions.

Mechanism of Action

The active molecule, Benzarone, modulates two distinct physiological mechanisms that involve regulatory processes in the kidney and the circulatory system.

Targeted Renal Urate Regulation

This domain centers on the metabolic action of the drug as an inhibitor of the URAT1 transporter located in the kidney's proximal tubules. By blocking the reabsorption of urate, the mechanism suppresses a transport process that controls the level of uric acid in the bloodstream. This leads directly to an increase in urinary urate excretion, resulting in a systemic decrease in the concentration of plasma uric acid.

Vascular Cytoprotection and Signaling

This domain covers the drug's specialized effect on the circulatory system through complex cellular signaling. The mechanism involves modulation of mitochondrial activity, which leads to the nuclear translocation of the NRF2 transcription factor. This engagement of the NRF2 pathway modulates the expression of anti-oxidative enzymes, influencing the structural integrity of the blood vessel walls. This effect accompanies the metabolic action by influencing the cellular homeostasis of the circulatory system.

Dosage and Administration Information

Cloze (Benzarone) is an Oral Tablet intended for use as part of a long-term treatment plan for chronic metabolic conditions. The official usage protocol is designed to ensure controlled administration, focusing on careful dose initiation, precise frequency, and mandatory co-administration requirements.

Administration Scope

Instruction Detail
Route of administration Oral
Dosing schedule Initial dose is 25 mg daily. The typical maintenance range is 50 mg to 100 mg daily, with 100 mg as the maximum recommended daily dose.
Frequency The medicine is taken once daily.
Preparation The tablet is often scored to allow for accurate division to achieve the required 25 mg starting dose.
Age-group rules The standard adult dosing schedule is applied to adolescents aged 14 years and older.

Use-Context Constraints

Effective administration of Cloze is tied to specific procedural requirements. It is mandatory to maintain sufficient fluid intake throughout the treatment period. Furthermore, patients may be required to adjust their urine pH to a slightly alkaline range, typically between 6.6 and 6.8, as this context-of-use principle is integral to the administration protocol for this class of uricosuric agents. To support proper use, patients are also instructed to avoid or strictly limit intake of both purine-rich foods and alcohol.

Procedural Structure

The official procedure dictates that treatment begins with the low initial dose, followed by a gradual dose titration toward the necessary long-term maintenance range. This structure ensures a measured and controlled approach to using the medication over a prolonged duration.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence Overview


Initial Investigation and Proposed Action

Initial investigation focused on the drug's potential action within the central nervous system. This line of inquiry explored the drug's activity as a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor. This is believed to enhance the inhibitory effect of the neurotransmitter Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), contributing to decreased neuronal excitability. This specific mechanism is a focus of ongoing early-phase and preclinical studies.


Key Clinical Trial Areas

Focus on Seizure and Panic Disorders

Research has consistently evaluated the drug's use in seizure disorders and panic disorder. Long-term clinical trials reported on the maintenance of therapeutic response in participants with specific types of seizures, including absence seizures, myoclonic epilepsies, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Studies focused on panic disorder have assessed reductions in the frequency and severity of panic attacks in adult participants, with or without agoraphobia.

Study of Related Conditions

Trials have also included explorations of the drug's relationship with other conditions, often as an adjunctive therapy. Research has investigated its use in individuals with restless leg syndrome and certain forms of acute agitation. Furthermore, studies have been conducted to evaluate the drug's potential in managing symptoms of REM sleep behavior disorder.


Tolerability Profile Data

Data from clinical trials indicate that the drug is a long-acting benzodiazepine with a high potential for physical dependence with extended use. Clinical reports pertaining to combination use included observations regarding side effects related to alcohol consumption, often resulting in increased sedation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Cloze (FAQ)

Q: Can Cloze be taken long-term?

A: Official usage protocols describe Cloze as part of a long-term treatment plan intended for managing chronic metabolic conditions. The official prescribing information supports the sustained use of the medication over a prolonged duration as directed by a healthcare provider.

Q: How quickly should I expect to notice any effects from Cloze?

A: The official procedure for use involves a measured approach over a period of time. Because the medication is intended for long-term management, official information indicates that the full therapeutic effects may take several months of consistent use to fully manifest.

Q: Does Cloze interact with common cold or flu medications?

A: According to official regulatory documents, no specific medicines are formally listed as having documented interactions with Cloze. This means the prescribing information does not list common cold or flu products as requiring mandatory dose adjustments or being contraindicated.

Q: Is it okay to drink alcohol while taking Cloze?

A: Official use-context constraints require patients to avoid or strictly limit the intake of alcohol throughout the treatment period. This instruction is tied to the appropriate use of the drug for its approved condition.

Q: What foods should I avoid when I am on Cloze?

A: The official administration instructions include use-context constraints that require patients to avoid or strictly limit the intake of purine-rich foods. This is described as a condition of use within the official administration protocol.

Q: Does Cloze affect my driving ability?

A: The official labeling does not explicitly restrict the operation of a vehicle or machinery. However, the safety profile notes that the adverse effect of increased sedation has been observed when the medication is combined with alcohol. Official guidance notes that individual response to medications can vary.

Q: Is Cloze addictive or habit-forming?

A: The official safety profile for the approved use of Cloze as a uricosuric agent does not classify it as a drug with potential for abuse, dependence, or addiction. The official label for its approved use details risks related to organ function and other specific adverse reactions.

Q: Why does the packaging for Cloze say I should avoid grapefruit?

A: Official regulatory documents based on the ANSM Prescribing Information state that no explicit interactions involving foods are documented. Any instruction to avoid grapefruit is therefore not based on the official regulatory label for this specific drug.

Q: Can Cloze be crushed or split in half?

A: The official prescribing information states that the Oral Tablet is scored to allow for accurate division. The tablet is scored to facilitate accurate division for the initial low-dose phase of treatment.

Q: How soon after stopping Cloze do its effects wear off?

A: Studies and official information indicate that Cloze is part of a long-term treatment plan aimed at maintaining metabolic balance. Due to its intended sustained action, its effects do not cease immediately upon discontinuation.

Q: Is Cloze available in different strengths?

A: The drug is supplied as an Oral Tablet, and the official dosing schedule is achieved using 50 mg and 100 mg strengths. The initial lower dose is achieved by dividing the scored tablet.

Q: Does Cloze interact with common supplements like Vitamin D or B12?

A: Official regulatory documents indicate no explicit interactions involving herbal products or common supplements are documented in the prescribing information. The official interaction profile does not list vitamins or common supplements as substances that must be avoided.

Q: What does the FDA or other agencies say about Cloze's safety profile?

A: The authoritative information, including the safety profile and required monitoring, is published by governmental agencies such as the ANSM Prescribing Information (France) and other international drug regulatory bodies. These official documents contain the full safety profile and use restrictions.

Q: What are the major themes of reported side effects in clinical trials for Cloze?

A: The major theme of reported adverse reactions documented in official regulatory materials is Hepatobiliary Disorders. This includes the very rare, but clinically significant, risk of Cytolytic Hepatitis.

Q: Is there a liquid form of Cloze available?

A: The medication is officially supplied as an Oral Tablet. The official regulatory text does not indicate the availability of a liquid form for general administration.

Q: Do I need regular blood tests while taking Cloze?

A: The official safety documentation mandates regular monitoring of liver enzyme levels (transaminases) prior to and throughout therapy. This required monitoring is implemented due to the potential for a serious adverse reaction listed in the official profile.

Q: Does Cloze have a Black Box Warning?

A: While the specific term 'Black Box Warning' may not be used in all international regulatory texts, the official safety documentation highlights the serious risk of Cytolytic Hepatitis. It also requires mandatory regular monitoring of liver enzymes; this mandatory monitoring requirement is implemented to manage this significant safety risk.

Q: What should I do if a side effect of Cloze doesn't go away?

A: Official safety warnings advise that if signs or symptoms related to a serious side effect, such as liver disorder, are observed, the administration of the drug should be discontinued immediately. The official documentation emphasizes the need for professional guidance when concerning reactions occur.

Q: Does Cloze affect birth control pills?

A: Official regulatory documents indicate no specific medicines or drug classes, including hormonal contraceptives, are formally listed as having documented interactions with Cloze. The official prescribing information does not contain specific restrictions regarding this combination.

How should Cloze be stored and disposed of?

The official labeling for Cloze tablets establishes that no special temperature conditions are required for storage, with a documented shelf life of 5 years. The container must be kept tightly closed and the medication must be stored out of the reach of children to satisfy mandatory safety and handling requirements.

Official Disposal Rules

When disposing of unused or expired Cloze, it is required to follow local, regional, and national regulations. The medication must not be thrown into wastewater or drains, as the active substance is classified as very toxic to aquatic life, mandating that disposal avoids release to the environment. The official guidance recommends utilizing drug take-back programs or authorized collection sites for discarding the product.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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