Gout Medications

Prednisone, naproxen, and indomethacin are just a few of the medications that can help treat a gout attack. A few of the drugs used to prevent future attacks include allopurinol, probenecid, and sulfinpyrazone. Some of the factors that can affect the specific medications your healthcare provider recommends include your current symptoms, other medical conditions you may have, and other drugs you are taking.

An Overview of Gout Medications

There are several types of medications used for treating gout. Some of these medicines are used during an acute gout attack. Others are used to prevent a future attack.
 
The specific medications your healthcare provider recommends will be based on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your current symptoms
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medicines that you are taking
  • How you have responded to other gout medications.
     

Drugs Used for Acute Gout

For someone with an acute attack of gout, medications that are prescribed may include one of the following:
 
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
  • Colchicine.
     
These medications are used to block the inflammatory reaction seen in an acute gout attack. Drug treatment can often relieve acute gout symptoms within 48 hours.
 
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
For an acute attack of gout, healthcare providers most commonly prescribe high doses of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs include:
 
NSAIDs reduce the inflammation caused by deposits of uric acid crystals but have no effect on the amount of uric acid in the body. These medications are taken by mouth.

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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