Gout Treatments

There are a number of medications used for treating gout. In many cases, treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and long-term damage to the affected joints. When treating acute gout, healthcare providers generally prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or colchicine. To prevent future attacks, healthcare providers usually prescribe either allopurinol or uricosuric drugs.

Gout Treatments: An Overview

A number of other conditions share similar symptoms with gout. Therefore, the first step in treating gout is to make an accurate diagnosis. Once an accurate gout diagnosis is made, the healthcare provider will consider one of several medicines to help ease the pain of acute gout attacks.
 
Once the attack has improved, the next step in treating the condition is to:
 
  • Prevent future attacks
  • Avoid the formation of tophi and kidney stones.
     
Successful treatment can reduce both the discomfort caused by the symptoms of gout and long-term damage to the affected joints. Proper gout treatments can also help prevent disability due to this condition.
 

Medications Used to Treat Acute Gout

Acute gout treatment will include one of the following
 gout medications:
 
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
  • Colchicine, which works best when taken within the first 12 hours of an acute attack.
     
These medicines are used to block the inflammatory reaction seen with gout. Drug treatment can relieve acute gout symptoms within 48 hours.
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
 
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