Treatment for Gout

Finding a good treatment for gout can be a difficult experience.

What is Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis that attacks your joints suddenly and intensely.

Most often the big toe is affected first showing visible signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling and pain.

The majority sufferers are men with a small percentage women (mostly post-menopausal).

An attack may last for several days and usually goes away on its own if left untreated. Subsequent attacks may not happen for weeks, months or even years.

There are cases when an attack may last for an extended period of time. When this happens it may cause damage to the affected joint resulting in loss of mobility.

Gout Treatments

There are a number of treatments for gout. The goal is to terminate acute attacks and provide the patient with rapid and safe relief from inflammation and pain.

It's also important to prevent future attacks. Gout treatments are often successful and do not offer any complications.

Complications typically arise if other medical conditions are present or the patient is non-compliant towards their treatment instructions.

In many cases it's important to understand what your gout triggers are.

Diet for Gout

For some patients a gout flare-up may be triggered by a diet high in purine rich foods such as red meat. This is generally the case for patients that have an inherited abnormality in the way their body processes uric acid.

When uric acid levels become too high, or the kidneys are not able to excrete it fast enough, a gout attack takes place. Therefore a large key to your gout treatment is how you handle your diet.

You should make sure to limit the amount of purine rich foods (meat) you consume, drink plenty of fluids, reduce alcohol intake, and maintain a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor about medications that may reduce your uric acid levels.

Medications for Gout

There are a number of medications prescribed to treat gout. The most commonly used medications are NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs), such as Indomethacin or Ibuprofen.

Often a physician will start at the maximum dosage to reduce symptoms quickly. Once the pain and inflammation have ceased and not come back for 48 hours, the patient may stop taking the medication.

Colchicine for Gout

Colchicine is another commonly used medication. This treatment for gout is used for acute attacks as well as preventing future attacks.

It's important to note this medication will not replace medications taken to lower the amount of uric acid in the body. This medication also does not cure gout; it simply relieves the attacks by reducing inflammation.

Colchicine may be taken one of two ways. Some patients take a small dose daily indefinitely. Other may take larger doses only during outbreaks.

Corticosteroids for Gout

For patients who are unable to take NSAIDs, corticosteroids may be used as part of your gout treatments. A patient having an acute attack will often receive Prednisone in small doses, normally 20 to 40 mg per day for 3 to 4 days.

ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) may be administered as an IM injection. This treatment for gout is normally one injection followed by a second injection several days later.

Allopurinol for Gout

Allopurinol is a medication used for the prevention of gout. This medication is taken daily and works by reducing the formation of uric acid. It's a preventative treatment and not a medication that would be prescribed for an acute attack.

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