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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.

By By Dorothy Foltz-Gray

The First Line of Defense

A gout attack is the result of a buildup of uric acid in the blood, which forms crystals in the joints. At the onset of a gout attack – characterized by an inflamed joints (usually the big toe), that’s reddened and warm to the touch, your doctor will give you one or more of the following medications to address pain and inflammation.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Your doctor may prescribe indomethancine (Indocin), ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), which can help relieve pain and inflammation within the first 24 hours after a gout attack. However, these can have side effects such as stomach upset or ulcer, or heart disease risk. People with gastrointestinal, kidney or heart problems should not take them.

Colchicine. This anti-inflammatory is most effective taken within 12 hours of an attack. It helps prevent the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints Colchicine is sometimes taken in addition to NSAIDs for six to 13 months until uric acid levels are stabilized by other long-term medication. (See below.)

Corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone work by suppressing the inflammation of an acute attack, usually within 24 hours. When patients can’t tolerate NSAIDs or colchicine, corticosteroids may be injected into the painful joint. If a number of joints are involved, the medication may be injected into the muscle or taken orally. They can make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar, and they can cause temporarily blurry vision.

Long-Term Treatment

The goal of long-term treatment  is to reduce and stabilize the level of uric acid in your blood. Uric acid is a waste product made by the body as it breaks down purines – compounds found in foods, particularly those high in protein. If uric acid builds up in the bloodstream, crystals may form in joint tissue, triggering 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 can also accelerate degeneration in the joint that can lead to 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 organs and ultimately lead to kidney failure.

Before a doctor can prescribe long-term medication, he will need to determine whether your body overproduces or underexcretes uric acid. 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 – or will develop – gout.

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Bill
06 Feb 2012, 22:14
I gave myself gout by going on an all shrimp diet. Never been rid of it since. Two years ago our unit celebrated and I overindulged in the toasts. My feet have hurt ever since. I have been living on Corn Flakes, home made veg soup and egg whites for omelets. Even with this diet I experienced severe pain every night after laying down. My doctor doubled my allopurinal from 300 to 600 but my feet continued to hurt. Then one night I had almost no pain. So I reviewed what I had been consuming in an effort to find perhaps something different. The only thing that I had done differently was to make a concerted effort to drink more water. So I upped the amount of water from 4 times 16 oz glasses to about 7 or 8 times 16 oz glasses. My feet are not like they were when I was a boy but I no longer have to take a quarter to half an Oxy pill in order to rest.

Water water water
jim Ellis
17 Jan 2012, 21:41
I am not promoting a product, but if you want to research Mona Vie Active, please go to www.mymonavie.com/jimandshelley.
Jim Ellis
17 Jan 2012, 21:28
I had my first flare up with Gout in 2002. It would flare up 3 to 4 times a year. My doctor gave me Indomethacin 50MG capsules to fight it. The medication did not work. In 2008 a friend of mine gave me a bottle of Mona Vie "Active". This product is 19 different fruit juices and includes Glucosamino which is good for the bodies joints. Since taking the Mona Vie "Active" my Gout has not flared up in 3 1/2 years. I hate taking medications and would rather take a natural product. I hope this is posted to help others.
lopakoliza
25 Nov 2011, 14:28
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Kathy Wheatley
17 Nov 2011, 19:45
I was taking allopurinol,with some problems.It upset my stomache,due to a ulcer.Now,I am taking Predisone,for RA.Doing better.But I cannot take steriods forever (9mos.now)I have had gout since my teens.I am now,56.Can I replace the steriod with something other than Allopuriol?
Cgeers
14 Nov 2011, 00:43
I've had persistent gout for the past 17 years. I've tried everything and the only thing that works is to take my prescribed dosage of Allopurinol. I'm up to 600mg a day and it is dissolving the tophi I've had for years. It's a slow painful process but I think I can make it through. Things I know that make it worse:

High fructose corn syrup (in pretty much everything but if you're drinking soda CUT BACK or ELIMINATE IT)

Caffeine (it dehydrates you and creates an acidic state in your blood stream)

Beans (doesn't seem to matter what kind)

Stress (this is a no brainer)

Lack of sleep (rest is imperative)
Samuel Daniels
27 Oct 2011, 13:46
More than any medicine can, if you have gout and you drink even small amounts quit drinking any for six months and combined with the Alloprinol you will stop having attacks. Promise.
Gout And Diet
05 Oct 2011, 09:48
Wow, this is awesome! Thanks a lot!
Rhonda
20 Sep 2011, 14:14
My physician reccomended cutting out red meat, and some seafoods. I like to eat fish, but it seems shrimp contributes to gout. I am still learning, but realize drinking lots and lots of water always helps.
Lucille Shuemake
08 Sep 2011, 20:20
My brother has had several bouts of gout. He recently got on Colcrys daily to prevent attacks. It made him very weak, fatigued, and his legs and feet tingled. He got almost bedfast. He is 70 years old is there anything he can take daily? Is Uloric for daily use, and could it cause the same side effects? He has had one heart attack about 10 years ago. He does take a medication for high bloodpressure.

Thank you for any help you can give us.

Lucille Shuemake
sandiegodebbie1
16 Aug 2011, 21:08
i was on the allop/coc also stop taking after gout was gone then changed from high acid foods except lemons have not had an attack since. plus eat a lot of cherry just in case.never wants to feel that again drink lots of water to flush kidneys
Paul Hynes
02 Apr 2011, 23:36
Hello

I was diagnosed with gout about 2 years ago and started taking allopurinol for a year and a half and did not have an attack so I stopped taking it. After about 2 months I started having an attack every 2 weeks so I started to take allopurinol again and my uric acid has dropped to low levels but I continue to have attacks even more often. Could you please explain this to me I am very frustrated.
Jonesy
20 Mar 2011, 14:21
A couple of questions were asked about taking allopurinol and having blood sugar go up since they have diabetes. The answer is no, allopurinol does not increase blood sugar.

You should ask your doctor what the uric acid is in the blood. You want the lab test result to be less than 6.5 mg/dl so the uric acid crystal disolve.
Jane K
16 Mar 2011, 14:25
I have had polycystic kidney disease for several years. I came down with gout in may 2010; initially I was give a dosage of 100Mg of Allopurinol and I am now up to 300 MG daily. My gout is considerably worse and the pain is constant. It is in my fingers,wrist, elbows, arm and up to my shoulders; also in my left knee and ankles. I was told by the rheumotogist that many of the pain meds I cannot take due to the PKD. Any suggestions
I am taking the black cherry liquid extract
in water daily. I realize due to the PKC
my gout will always be persistent, I need
to alleviate the pain if at all possbile and
get my life back. I don't feel like doing
anything; I am not working at this time &
if things don't improve I am not sure I will
ever be able to resume a normal life without
so much pain.

Thanks for any hlep you can recommend.
Sue Noe
15 Feb 2011, 10:23
I have had gout for about fifteen yrs or more and I have it in my hands,wrist,feet and my elbows. I totally agree its the most painful thing. I have knots on my fingers and feet when have had attacks. I have it now at this time in my wrist and they are swollen and aching. I would like to know what else I ca do to keep the attacks down
Ron Harley
31 Jan 2011, 14:36
I have started medication for gout,I have type 2 diabetes and my sugar level has risen,would that have bearing on my level going up?
Gayle Graf
14 Dec 2010, 20:57
I have had gout for around 30 years and have tried everything! I was even in a gout study last winter injecting myself in the stomach with a trial medication every week. My best advise: drink plenty of water, take black cherry extract and cochicine daily, and stay away from beer. Allopurinol does help lower levels to prevent further damage to the joint(s)
oldfashion
21 Oct 2010, 14:53
I had my first gout attack in July. The pain
was so bad I felt I would die.
Someone told me to get black cherry concentrate. Two tablespoons in 5 ounces of
water per day. In 48 hours I noticed an
improvement just as I was told.
The taste is not bad either.
nyle barnett
22 Jun 2010, 13:53
my diet didnt change my acid level has been as high as 13.8 and stays around 7.0 on meds i have no kidney problems that the doctors can find and i have never had gout i just hurt all over some days way worse than others im 36 yrs old ive tried diet lost 16 pounds i wiegh 168 im 5ft 7 and diet didnt change my levels at all ? help . thanks
Robert stewart
09 May 2010, 04:55
place 1 bittermellon/ampalaya (without the seeds), 1 small winter melon/upo (without thb seeds), 1 handful stalk of lemon grass/tanlad (soak lemon gras in covered bowl of water onernight) Now place all in juice extractor and divide that into three parts. Drink each part three times a day. initially it will give you the RUNS(LMB, loose bowel movement) So just run for dear life and get your as thet toilet so you dont make a nasty mess all over the place! This should last for just 1 or 2 days and you would have lost 5-10lbs of water retention from that. Just keep on with the formula. And in a months time you will be sending me gifts and thankYou cards and letters. This recipe/formula was formulated by ROBBY TARROZA from the Philippines. We call it the Robby Tarroza FORMULA. Try it and send this free recipe/formula to all your friends that are having difficult times with Diabets and High Uri acid. Also try looking into the Dorn Method and it has helped me tremendously with all kids of different problems i was having, especially depression. You will be surprisd what a straitend/re-aligned spinal colum may do for you and your entire body. I had it done once so far and i noticd i urinate more often and i dont have migrains anymore. Anyway, look it up, DORN METHOD Thaks and God Luck!!!
hermie
24 Mar 2010, 17:54
I believe that the product OPC3 will greatly help relieve , if not, remove the symptoms associated with Gout and High blood sugar cases. Several testimonies have been given for OPC3. OPC3 is a powerful antioxidant made from Pycnogenol, a ntural plant extractfrom the bark of the maritime pine tree. It binds to collagen and elastin and promotes production of endothelial nitric acid which supports normal vasodilation of blood vessels. If you are interested in knowing or finding a solution to your back problems, gout, high blood sugar, u can email me at hvp0428@yahoo.com
shirley hicks
15 Feb 2010, 10:48
how can one do to keep blood sugar down while on colchicine?
Pam Thames
20 Nov 2009, 09:13
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
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
www.gout.com can answer a lot of questions and is a great site
Linda S.
21 Jul 2009, 15:06
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
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
I have Gout and a weight problem I can not lose weight ansd keep it off.

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