Medication for Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that initially manifests itself in your big toe. Like other forms of arthritis, gout is quite painful and affects joints throughout your body. People with high uric acid levels are at a high risk for gout. As the excess uric acid in your blood stream travels to the big toe joints and your other joints, the uric crystals bind to the joints and result in a gout attack. Although there is no fool-proof cure for gout, many medications successfully treat gout symptoms and help to decrease your overall uric acid levels.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

• If you have mild-to-moderate gout pain, you may benefit from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. NSAIDs will help to ease your gout-related pain by reducing your joint swelling. NSAIDs often exist in both over-the-counter and stronger prescription doses. Although NSAIDs are relatively safe, some people experience stomach pain or ulcers. If you have had stomach problems in the past, talk to your doctor before NSAID use.

  Another non-steroid gout medication is colchicine. Not considered a formal NSAID, colchicine nonetheless reduces pain and swelling. However, the side effects of colchicine are often quite unpleasant. Diarrhea and stomach pain are both common. In addition, colchicine is not recommended for patients with kidney or liver disorders.

Steroid Treament

• Although your gout may respond well to NSAIDs, you may require something stronger to control pain and swelling. In addition, some people can't take non-steroid medication due to past health problems. Like NSAIDs, steroid medications such as prednisone, will reduce joint inflammation. Based on your health history, your doctor may recommend steroid injection into your joints or orally administered steroid pills. Over time, steroid use may lead to many health complications such as loss of bone density and a decrease in your immune system's effectiveness. Thus, use steroids only under a doctor's supervision.

Uric Acid Drugs

• In addition to symptom treatment, your doctor may suggest that you reduce gout flareups through a reduction of uric acid in the bloodstream. Common uric acid medications include probenecid and allopurinol. Probenecid will increase your body's ability to excrete excess uric acid. Allopurinol on the other hand inhibits the body's production of uric acid. Both medications carry certain side effects and are thus not appropriate for everyone. Allopurinol ironically often leads to initial gout attacks but in the long run will help to get your gout under control. Probenecid may cause headaches and nausea.