Treatment

The goals of gout treatment are to ease the pain associated with acute attacks, prevent future attacks and avoid the formation of tophi and kidney stones. The treatment of gout can be approached two ways - management of pain and lifestyle adjustments:

Management of Pain - Medications are used to treat the pain of acute gout attacks and to lower uric acid levels.
Lifestyle Adjustments - A healthy, balanced diet can help maintain a healthy body weight. Regular exercise is important, too. Patients are advised to drink lots of water and a minimal amount of alcohol.

Medications that treat acute attacks are aimed at reducing pain and swelling, and may include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Colchicine, Oral Glucocorticosteriods and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH).

Medications to lower uric acid levels and prevent future attacks may include:

Probenecid and Allopurinol. It is important not to start or stop use of these medications during an attack.

For a list of common treatments, click on medications.

Long-term Therapy

Once a patient has been diagnosed, gout can usually be successfully managed. If a person suffers from recurring and frequent attacks, long-term therapy may be initiated to:

Lower the uric acid level in the body, or
Increase excretion via the kidneys.

Always check with your physician to determine the best treatment option.