Cure for gout pain
While there is no cure for gout, there are effective treatments to relieve the pain.
For the acute attack, drugs such as colchicine, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used.
Colchicine is an oral drug that is taken in a dose of one tablet every two hours until the attack subsides or until side effects including abdominal cramps and diarrhea occur. Colchicine, while effective, is a potentially toxic drug and should not be used in patients with limited kidney or liver function, those who have blood disorders, and the elderly.
NSAIDS are anti-inflammatory drugs that also are effective in relieving the pain of an acute attack. All NSAIDS are helpful. Again, patients who are allergic to these types of drugs or who have contraindications against NSAIDS should not take them. Corticosteroids taken by mouth or directly injected into an affected joint can relieve gout attacks.
Long term therapies such as probenecid which helps lower uric acid by causing an increased excretion through the urine is advised in the younger patient with normal kidney function who has a baseline urine uric acid excretion in the normal range. Colbenemid is a drug that combines probenecid and colchicines. It is good for young healthy patients with gout.
Allopurinol is a drug that lowers uric acid by reducing the body’s ability to produce it. This drug is used in patients who overexcrete uric acid in the urine and in older patients who do not have normal kidney function. This drug has many potential serious side effects and needs to be monitored carefully.
Neither allopurinol or probenecid should be used to treat acute attacks. Losartan (Cozaar) is an anti-hypertensive drug that is uricosuric (increases uric acid excretion through the urine). Its effects are mild but in a gout patient with hypertension, it is a good choice. Febuxostat is a drug that is currently under investigation. It reduces uric acid but does not appear to have the side-effect profile of allopurinol. Prohibitions against foods and drinks containing high levels of purines are also wise… at least until the gout is under control.
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