Treatment for Gout

Gout has the unique distinction of being the most recorded disease in human history. Affecting nobility in the middle ages and prominent people all throughout history, it has also produced many herbal remedies and concoctions. Yet it is only recently that precise and effective scientific treatment for gout emerged. This was brought about by the determination of the underlying cause of gout which is high uric acid. 

High uric acid is a definite precursor for gout but many people can have high uric acid for years without developing an acute attack of gout. It is only when excess uric acid forms crystals and gets deposited in the joints leading to severe pain and swelling that hyperuricemia (the condition of high uric acid) progresses to gout.

Generally people with hyperuricemia do not undergo treatment for gout unless it has advanced into an actual gout attack. This means that any treatment for gout starts with controlling the incapacitating pain that comes with an acute gout attack. This is then followed by normalizing the uric acid levels in the body to prevent gout attacks in the future.

Treatment for Gout –  Pain Management

The primary concern of gout sufferers is easing the pain from an acute gout attack. There are certain medications specific to gout pain that is commonly prescribed. First are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) which include common over-the-counter pain medication as Ibuprofen. Other drugs under this category are Naproxen and Indomethacin. Colchicine is another drug that does not only gets rid of the pain but is also given as maintenance to prevent gout attacks.  Steroids are also given when a patient has contra-indications to NSAID’s or Colchicine.

Treatment for Gout – Reducing Uric Acid

There are two types of prescribed medications in this category: drugs blocking uric acid production and drugs helping the kidneys remove uric acid faster. The most commonly prescribed and often specific to gout is Allopurinol. It is given only after an acute gout attack has settled otherwise as sudden lowering of uric acid by the Allopurinol may also trigger another attack. Another uric acid inhibitor drug is Febuxostat which is given to patients with contra-indications against Allopurinol.

For uric acid removal there are 3 drugs available: Probenecid, Benzbromarone and Sulfinpyrazone. The availability of these drugs varies from country to country. They tend to have severe side-effects to the liver and stomach and as such their usage are restricted and even prohibited in some countries.

A gout patient will also be required to make a lot of changes to diet and lifestyle. Gout is associated with obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The gout risk is high for persons with these medical conditions. This means that a gout patient is advised to maintain a healthy weight and to eat healthy diet. In particular gout patients should avoid foods rich in purines as uric acid is a by-product of its metabolism in the body. The same is true for alcoholic beverages, especially beer, which are known gout attack triggers.