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The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below. Only the most general side effects are included. Ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use each of these medications only as recommended by your doctor, and according to the instructions provided. If you have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.
Medications are the primary treatment for gout. There are a number of medications used to treat gout.
Prescription Medications
Prescription or Over-the-Counter Medications
Colchicine is given during a gout attack to relieve the pain, swelling, and inflammation. It works by decreasing the acidity of joint tissue and preventing deposits of uric acid crystals in joints. This medication may also be taken in smaller doses to help prevent recurrent gout attacks. Colchicine is given either by mouth or by IV in a vein. When taken orally, it should be taken with food or liquids to help prevent stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Consult your doctor before taking colchicine if you:
Common names include:
Corticosteroids can control the pain, swelling, and inflammation of joints caused by gout. The medication can be given as a tablet or in liquid form or by injection into a joint—or in severe cases, by vein. If taken orally, corticosteroids are best taken at the same time(s) each day and should be taken with liquid or food to lessen stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Common names include:
Allopurinol is sometimes given to people who suffer repeated gout attacks, especially when tophi deposits, collections of uric acid crystals, develop. This medication slows the development of uric acid by inhibiting the activity of certain enzymes. It is given in tablet form and should be taken at the same time (or times) each day with food or liquid to help avoid stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Consult with your doctor before taking allopurinol if you:
Common names include:
Probenecid is sometimes given to patients who suffer repeated gout attacks (especially when tophi deposits develop). This medication forces the kidneys to excrete additional uric acid. It is given in tablet form and should be taken at the same time each day with food or liquid to help avoid stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Consult your doctor before taking probenecid if you have:
Common names include:
NSAIDs are given to treat the pain, inflammation, and swelling caused by gout attacks. They can be purchased over-the-counter or your doctor may prescribe a higher dosage. They work by decreasing prostaglandins, hormones that produce inflammation and pain. The medication may also be taken in smaller doses to help prevent attacks in patients with recurrent gout attacks. NSAIDs are given in tablet, capsule, or liquid form. They should be taken at the same time (or times) each day and should be taken with food or liquid to help avoid stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Consult your healthcare provider before taking NSAIDs if you have:
A recent study suggests that corticosteroids and NSAIDS are equally effective for acute gout, but corticosteroids are comparatively safer, at least in the short-term. Researchers randomly divided 90 patients older than 17 presenting to an emergency room with symptoms of gout into two groups. One group was given a NSAID (indomethacin) plus acetominophen (eg, Tylenol) and the other was given a corticosteroid (prednisolone) plus acetopminophen. Both groups had a similar reduction in their pain, but the corticosteroid group had fewer adverse effects. *
Whenever you are taking a prescription medication, take the following precautions:
Contact your doctor if:
References:
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html .
American College of Rheumatology website. Available at: http://www.rheumatology.org/ .
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/ .
The Merck Manual of Medical Information. 17th ed. Simon and Schuster, Inc; 2000.
Updated Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) section on 7/19/2007 according to the following study, as cited by DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Man CY, Cheung IT, Cameron PA, Rainer TH. Comparison of oral prednisolone/paracetamol and oral indomethacin/paracetamol combination therapy in the treatment of acute goutlike arthritis: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;49:670-677. Epub 2007 Feb 5.
Last reviewed February 2009 by Jill D. Landis, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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