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Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment for Gout

Hydrogen peroxide is a compound with the molecular formula H2O2. It's commonly used as a disinfectant, an antiseptic in wound cleansing, and an oxidizing agent in various industrial processes. In recent years some alternative medicine practitioners have promoted an unproven treatment called "hydrogen peroxide therapy" or "oxygen therapy" for various disorders, including cancer, AIDS, degenerative disease and gout. There is no scientific evidence to support these claims, and the FDA has never approved hydrogen peroxide for internal use.

  1. Gout

    • Cells in your body produce small quantities of a waste product called uric acid when breaking down nucleic acids. Typically the kidneys remove uric acid from the bloodstream, but if your body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys fail to filter it properly, uric acid may build up and form crystals around some of your joints, causing severe pain and swelling. This condition is called gout or gouty arthritis.

    Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy

    • Proponents of hydrogen peroxide therapy claim that injecting hydrogen peroxide into the bloodstream or ingesting it can cure a variety of illnesses. This treatment is not only unproven but potentially very dangerous because hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent that if injected in concentrated form can damage your cells and tissues; as described during a 2005 60 Minutes program, there have been reports of multiple fatalities associated with hydrogen peroxide therapy. Hydrogen peroxide is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of gout and there is no scientific evidence to support this type of treatment.

    Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide in the Body

    • The hydrogen peroxide you buy at the drugstore for use as a disinfectant or antiseptic is typically 3 percent or 6 percent concentration; proponents of hydrogen peroxide therapy, however, often recommend "food-grade hydrogen peroxide" with concentrations of 35 percent hydrogen peroxide or more. These concentrated solutions can cause irritation or ulceration of the digestive tract if ingested or cause potentially life-threatening complications if if administered intravenously. The FDA has warned against the internal use of these products on multiple occasions.

    Better Treatments for Gout

    • Physicians typically treat gout with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and corticosteroids to control inflammation. Doctors may also prescribe medications that help to reduce production of uric acid or increase the rate at which the kidneys filter it from the bloodstream. Bed rest and local application of heat or cold may be helpful as well.

    Considerations

    • So-called "hydrogen peroxide therapy" is not recommended. It is unproven and may even be life-threatening. There are safer and more effective treatments available. It's best to treat any claims that internal use of hydrogen peroxide can treat your condition with skepticism. Nothing in this article, however, is intended as medical advice, and if you have any questions about the right treatment for your condition the best person to consult is your doctor.

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