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Gout is a common and complex type of arthritis that can affect anyone
Medications for acute gout attack: These medications are usually prescribed to treat an acute attack of gout:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These can quickly relieve the pain and swelling of an acute gout episode. They can shorten the attack, especially if taken in the first 24 hours.
- Corticosteroids: These drugs can be taken by mouth or injected into an inflamed joint to quickly relieve the pain and swelling of an acute attack. Corticosteroids usually start working within 24 hours after they are taken.
- Colchicine: An anti-inflammatory medicine that works best if taken within the first 24 hours of a gout attack.
Medications for reducing uric acid levels: These are usually prescribed after an acute attack ends to reduce uric acid levels in the body to prevent future attacks.
- Colchicine: Regular and low doses of colchicine may be given along with other medications below to prevent flare-ups.
- Allopurinol: It reduces uric acid production in the body.
- Febuxostat: It reduces uric acid production in the body.
- Probenecid: It acts on the kidneys to help eliminate uric acid.
- Pegloticase: This is a medication that is injected every 2 weeks. It reduces uric acid quickly and used when other medications fail.
Lifestyle and home remedies to treat acute gout and can prevent recurrent attacks:
- Limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption and drinks sweetened with fructose (fruit sugar)
- Limiting intake of foods high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats, and seafood
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight
What causes gout?
Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in the joint, causing inflammation and intense pain. This typically occurs when there are high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is produced when purine-rich foods such as steak, organ meats, seafood, and alcoholic beverages, especially beer and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose), are consumed in a large quantity. Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood and gets excreted into the urine. However, sometimes there is too much uric acid or too little uric acid excreted causing urate crystals in the joint.
Risk factors: The following factors increase the uric acid level in the body:
- Diet: Eating a diet rich in meat, seafood, alcohol, and beverages sweetened with fructose (fruit sugar) increase levels of uric acid, which increase the risk of gout.
- Obesity: Higher the bodyweight, higher the uric acid produced in the body.
- Medical conditions: Certain diseases and conditions increase the risk of gout, such as untreated high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart and kidney diseases.
- Certain medications: Certain anti-hypertension medication, aspirin, etc. can increase uric acid levels.
- Family history of gout
- Inadequate hydration
- Age and sex: Gout occurs more often in men because women have lower uric acid levels. Men are more likely to develop gout between the ages of 30 and 50 years, and women may develop signs and symptoms after menopause.
- Recent surgery or trauma