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Treatments > Drug Guide > Types of Drugs > Drug Guide: Gout Medications
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Drug Guide: Gout Medications

Gout medications are used to relieve acute pain and inflammation and reduce uric acid in the blood, thereby preventing recurrence of attacks.

Why do gout drugs focus on uric acid?

Uric acid is a waste product made by the body as it breaks down the purines found in foods. If uric acid builds up in the bloodstream, crystals may form. Those crystals may lodge in joint tissue, causing the pain and inflammation associated with gout attacks.

Over time, accumulated uric acid crystal deposits (called tophi) can damage tissues and lead to lumps under the skin, joint deformity or osteoarthritis.

When uric acid is very high, gout can affect the kidneys. About 20 percent of people with gout develop kidney stones, which can damage the kidneys and ultimately lead to kidney failure.

How is gout treated?

Before a medication can be prescribed, your doctor will need to determine whether your body overproduces uric acid or underexcretes it. You’ll be given a blood test to measure your level of uric acid. A high uric acid level means you have hyperuricemia; however, having hyperuricemia does not necessarily mean you have gout.  

If your blood test shows too much uric acid, your body could be producing too much uric acid, or your kidneys may excrete it too slowly, causing it to build up in the bloodstream. You may be prescribed allopurinol (Lopurin, Zyloprim), which slows the production of uric acid and may dissolve crystals in tophi. If your kidneys don’t excrete uric acid fast enough, the drug probenecid (Benemid, Probalan) may be prescribed to help the kidneys increase production.

The drug colchicine is prescribed either instead of, or along with, allopurinol to prevent or relieve a gout attack. Used along with allopurinol in people who cannot tolerate NSAIDs or corticosteroids, colchicine reduces inflammation and prevents the buildup of uric acid crystals. In those who are allergic to allopurinol or who are in the throes of a gout attack, colchicine is an acceptable alternative.

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Pam Thames
20 Nov 2009, 09:13
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I am a diabetic, can taking allopurinol raise my blood sugar levels? Also, I am trying to lose weight, will it inder that? I have had kidney stones, will it help bring on new ones. I only had one attack of gout, my uric acid level was 9. If I really had gout, wouldn't I have had more than one attack?
Douglas Cagle
06 Aug 2009, 01:31
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I will soon be taking 400 MG's of allopurinol daily to control my Uric Acid Level. My Dr. wants my level to be maintained at 6.0 or below. Will I notice my blood sugar rise. I am currently taking Prednisone which keeps my Blood Sugar high. I take a pill to control the Blood sugar, but the Prednison keeps it high. Will Allopurinol have the same effect. The Prednisone is being used to deduce the current Gout attack that I have been having. After it subsided I will take the Allopurinol at a rate of 400 MG per day.

Thank you for your time.
Believer!
29 Jul 2009, 00:16
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www.gout.com can answer a lot of questions and is a great site
Linda S.
21 Jul 2009, 15:06
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If you are prone to gout, can you eleminate certain foods from your diet to keep from getting this?
Thanks
Al Lunsford
07 Jul 2009, 05:15
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I take 1 allopurinol daily for the gout. I notice my blood sugar has been rising. Can this pill do this to me. I am a diabetic and just take pills to control it. No insullin.
Thank you for your time.

~Al~
PAULETTE LAVAN
16 Jun 2009, 09:56
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I have Gout and a weight problem I can not lose weight ansd keep it off.

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