Pain Medicines Used for Gout

Uric acid (a toxic waste product) builds up in the blood when the body either can't get rid of the acid through urination or the body produces too much of it. The excessive uric acid then forms crystals that embed themselves in joints, causing intense pain. When gout pain hits, the quickest way to get rid of it is through medication. Medications also can effectively keep away gout pain by either reducing the inflammation or by removing the uric acid from the blood.

Corticosteroids

• If you are in the middle of a gout attack, corticosteroids can stop the pain in seconds if they are injected into a joint. The problem with corticosteroids is that they can weaken cartilage and speed up deterioration of the joints. That is why doctors administer them to a patient only a few times a year. But in the midst of an intense gout attack, this is the best remedy.

Colchicine

• Colchicine is another gout medication that can be used in the midst of a gout attack to help stop the pain. It also can reduce swelling and prevent future gout attacks. During an attack, you might need to take one pill an hour. The side effects of colchicines include diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, purpura (discoloration of the skin caused by bleeding under the skin), myopathy (a disease in which various muscles won't function), hair loss and reversible azoospermia (a complete absence of sperm). Long-term side effects can include bone-marrow depression with aplastic anemia (reduction in red blood cell production), with agranulocytosis (reduction in white blood cell production) or thrombocytopenia (reduction in platelet production).

Uloric

• Uloric is a medication for gout that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved in 2009. It is used to lower the uric acid levels in the blood to prevent a gout attack. Randomized control studies found that there is a greater chance of having a heart attack with Uloric than with other gout medications, though no reason was identified. Liver enzymes also can become elevated, and some patients experienced nausea and rashes.

Allopurinol

• Allopurinol is one of the longest-used medications to fight gout. It can help reduce the uric acid in the body, which makes it less likely that you will experience a gout attack. It can also cause nausea, diarrhea, rashes and drowsiness. More severe side effects can include hypersensitivity, itching, blood in the urine, eye irritation and loss of appetite.

Ibuprofen

• For mild gout attacks, ibuprofen is an over-the-counter medication that acts as an anti-inflammatory and can help reduce the pain. You'll need to take four tablets to begin to feel the effects.

Consult Your Doctor

• Since most of these medications are prescription medications, you should make your doctor aware of any side effects or unusual symptoms you experience. He may alter your dosage or put you on a different medication. More than likely, though, you won't experience any effects other than pain relief.