Overview Of Common Gout Medications

Gout is one of many types of arthritis! It is the result of uric acid buildup in the body, specifically around the joints. This condition triggers severe joint pain, and affected joints will also turn red and swell. The big toe is the joint affected by gout the most! Other commonly affected joints include the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers. Most symptoms appear suddenly and at night! Severe joint pain lasts for four to twelve hours in a gout attack. However, general discomfort lasts up to several weeks! Many patients experience a reduced range of motion in their joints as well.

Prescription medicine for gout pain is an incredibly common gout treatment! Typically, patients take uric acid lowering medicine and anti-inflammatory medicine for gout. Doctors also prescribe an ointment for gout pain to certain patients! Some patients try natural gout remedies, including following a gout diet. However, they still need to take gout control medications in most cases. Thus, they need to understand the most common options!

Colchicine

Colchicine is an oral medication that treats acute symptoms of gout. This includes pain! Low doses of this medication prevent gout attacks when patients take them daily. This medication reduces the buildup of uric acid crystals in the body. It also reduces joint swelling! However, patients need to discuss their medical history with their doctor first. This medication is not the right choice when patients have a history of liver or kidney disease! Certain medications interact with colchicine as well. Examples include cholesterol medications and digoxin. Patients have to avoid these interactions by reviewing their options with their doctor first.

Patients will also experience mild side effects when they take this medication. Common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and pain in the abdomen! Rare side effects are muscle weakness, shortness of breath, severe diarrhea, and numbness in the fingers and toes. Doctors need to know immediately about these effects!

Continue reading to learn about more gout medications now.

Allopurinol

Allopurinol is a common medication for gout. It reduces the risk of complications from this condition! This medication also restricts how much uric acid the body creates. Thus, the amount of uric acid in the patient's blood is lower. The result is a reduced risk of symptoms flaring up! However, this medication is not intended to treat gout attacks. It is instead prescribed to patients who have experienced complications. Typically, these complications include joint damage, kidney stones, and kidney disease! This medication also helps gout patients who deal with multiple flares each year. Doctors prescribe it to patients with severe pain during their attacks as well!

Common side effects of this medication are nausea, skin rashes, and diarrhea! Patients must inform their doctor when they see a rash on their skin. Rashes from this medication vary and will be flat or raised. Either way, the patient's doctor needs to know about it! This medication causes joint pain, swelling, and stiffness in rare cases. Patients must tell their doctor right away about all of those effects!

Uncover more information on medications for gout now.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treat and prevent gout attacks! Patients start with over-the-counter medicines, including ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Of course, prescription anti-inflammatory medication is also available! One example that is often used for gout is celecoxib. Higher doses of these medications manage symptoms while an attack is happening. A lower dose taken every day prevents future gout attacks! Patients often have to try several anti-inflammatories before they find what works best for them.

This type of medication causes several side effects. Examples are fluid retention, pain in the abdomen, higher blood pressure, and stomach ulcers. Thus, doctors must monitor patients on these medications! Dizziness and concentration problems are also side effects of this type of medication. Patients need to inform their doctor immediately of certain effects as well. Such effects include fatigue, difficulties urinating, and pain in the middle of their back. Two others are blurry vision and increased sensitivity to light! Patients typically need to adjust their dose or switch to another medication to manage these side effects. Gout patients with kidney problems cannot take this type of medication in most cases!

Reveal additional details on other medications for this condition now.

Corticosteroids

Gout patients take corticosteroids to treat and prevent gout attacks. They are prescribed when they cannot take anti-inflammatories or colchicine. One example used for gout is prednisone! These medications reduce gout pain and inflammation. Patients often take this medication orally. However, injections are available! Corticosteroids are meant for short-term use. They cause several side effects, such as mood changes, sleep problems, increased blood sugar, and higher blood pressure. A patient's risk of bone fractures also increases when they take this type of medication!

Patients must speak to their doctor about their medical history before taking this medication. They have to tell them when they have a history of osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, and eye issues. A history of liver or kidney disease matters as well! These conditions will adjust the patient's use of this medication. Patients also need to withdraw from this medication under a doctor's supervision. This is especially so when they have taken a corticosteroid for longer than fourteen days! Withdrawal symptoms include fatigue, body aches, and nausea.

Keep reading to learn more about the medications used to treat this condition now.

Probenecid

Probenecid is another medication used to treat gout. It is a uricosuric medication! This means that it assists the kidneys in removing uric acid from the patient's body. Doctors prescribe it for gout complications, not to prevent or treat flares! As mentioned, this medication reduces uric acid in the blood. However, some patients have more uric acid in their urine when they take it!

Side effects of this medication include stomach pain and skin rashes. Kidney stones are a rarer side effect! Serious side effects include painful urination, lower back pain, difficulty urinating, urine color changes, and changes in the volume of urine. Patients must tell their doctor immediately about all of these side effects! They must also do this when they deal with easy bruising, pale stool, severe pain in their abdomen, and any signs of an infection.