Gout Medication

Once your body experiences a buildup of uric acid crystals, they become close to impossible to get rid of. However, if you're suffering from the symptoms of gout, you should not delay in seeking treatment, whether you choose a medical or a natural treatment, consult with your doctor before you start your treatment of choice.

Medications for Gout Relief

Although there is no cure for gout, your doctor may prescribe you one of the many number of gout medications to provide you with relief from your gout symptoms. Some of the medication treatments doctors may prescribe include:

NSAIDs
Doctors tend to use Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) during the first stage of gout treatment to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with the present gout attack. Some types of NSIADs include: Indocin, Advil, Motrin, and Aleve. You can take these medications daily, as instructed by your doctor, up to four times daily to help control the pain and fever produced by your gout.

Although these medications will provide you with relief from your gout attack, it may not completely get rid of your symptoms. This is because these drugs are only effective to a certain point, regardless of the number of doses. And, if NSAIDS are used for a long period of time, they may produce side effects, such as: ulcers, heartburn, and bleeding of the stomach lining.

Cortisone
If NSAIDs drugs fail to reduce the pain caused by your gout, your doctor may prescribe you cortisone steroids. Cortisone steroids work to lessen the inflammation and swelling in your affected joints. This greatly reduces the pain caused from gout. One of the most commonly used steroids for the treatment of gout once was colchicine. However, because of the severe side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea associated with colchicine, it is now only used at last resort.

Corticosteroids
If you suffer from severe pain that affects your mobility, your doctor may give you a prescription for corticosteroids, particularly if colchicine or NSAIDs prove ineffective. Corticosteroids can be taken orally or injected directly into the affected join, providing immediate alleviation of symptoms. However, the downfall of this type of treatment is that these steroids can only be taken a few times a year, and produce both short-term and long-term time side effects. Commonly used corticosteroids include prednisone and hydrocortisone.

Preventative Medications
After the pain of the gout is controlled, the second stage of gout treatment is dedicated to preventing future attacks. Your doctor may recommend to you medications to minimize the level of uric acid in your body, particularly if you suffer from chronic or frequent gout attacks. Zyloprim, Benemid, and Anturane are some of the commonly prescribed preventative medications.