Treatment of Gout

Treatment for gout usually involves medications. What medications you and your doctor choose will be based on your current health and your own preferences.Gout medications can be used to treat acute attacks and prevent future attacks. Medications can also reduce your risk of complications from gout, such as the development of tophi from urate crystal deposits.

Medications to treat gout attacks

Drugs used to treat acute attacks and prevent future attacks include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include over-the-counter options such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), as well as more-powerful prescription NSAIDs such as indomethacin (Indocin) or celecoxib (Celebrex).

  Your doctor may prescribe a higher dose to stop an acute attack, followed by a lower daily dose to prevent future attacks.NSAIDs carry risks of stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers.

• Colchicine. Your doctor may recommend colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare), a type of pain reliever that effectively reduces gout pain. The drug's effectiveness may be offset, however, by side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, especially if taken in large doses.

  After an acute gout attack resolves, your doctor may prescribe a low daily dose of colchicine to prevent future attacks.

• Corticosteroids.After an acute gout attack resolves, your doctor may prescribe a low daily dose of colchicine to prevent future attacks.

  Corticosteroids are generally used only in people with gout who can't take either NSAIDs or colchicine. Side effects of corticosteroids may include mood changes, increased blood sugar levels and elevated blood pressure.