Gout can be excruciatingly painful. It is generally caused when uric acid crystals deposit in the joint space between two bones. Gout attacks begin with big toe and move to knees and wrists, before moving to other affected joints. Since the disease is related to excess of uric acid, it may also affect your kidney functioning as well. A variety of conventional and herbal gout medication are available that can help you to get it in control.

Gout Medication

There are different medications available for gout; and using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have proved extremely successful for its treatment and possible cure. These help you get relief from inflammation, swelling, and joint pain. Though these do not stop the progression of joint damage, your symptoms are taken care of over a period of time. NSAIDs lead to decreased inflammation and lower down the formation of uric acid crystals.

Another good gout medication is using corticosteroids which are strong anti-inflammatory hormones that are recommended to take orally. Your doctor may inject it in affected joints for immediate relief in inflammation and swelling. It helps in improving joint mobility.

There are certain gout medicines that act as excellent uricosuric agents. These works by lowering the uric acid content in your blood, thus preventing gout attacks. These medicines do not help once you have gout attack; rather help you prevent further attacks.

Apart from these, there are general analgesic medicines that you can take as pain killers. Ensure that when you visit your doctor; you discuss your medical history in detail so that all the symptoms are communicated properly. The kind of gout medicines you get directly depends on how well you communicate the symptoms.

Understand the dosage and the periodicity of medicines to take. Even if the symptoms are same for different people, gout medicines may be different for different people because of certain factors such as age, alcohol consumption, and whether you already have an ulcer in your stomach, to name a few.

Using alcohol may increase the chances of ulcers, or gastrointestinal bleeding. It also builds up excess of toxins in your body that is not good for gout patients. Reduce your intake of alcohol, and discuss with your doctor before you start taking medicine.

Side Effects of Gout Medication

Use of NSAIDs may cause stomach ulcers in you. Also, you may experience gastrointestinal bleeding. Prolonged use of this medication may also damage your stomach lining and affect upper intestines badly. Research has also suggested that it is linked to heart failure as well. So, you need to be very careful by taking correct and regular dosage of these medicines.

If you have been taking NSAIDs for more than one month, confirm from your doctor if you really need to take it. Tell your doctor if you are taking any alternative gout medicines, or if you are taking any home remedies for gout control.

Corticosteroid medications cause weak skin when taken for long time. You will be more vulnerable to bruises and skin injuries. These medicines also cause brittle bones making these more susceptible to fractures. Doctors usually recommend high dosage of corticosteroids during gout attacks and as the attack subsidies, you may be asked to stop taking these.

Cautions for Gout Medication

If you are taking any herbal gout medicines, consult it with your doctor to ensure that it doesn’t interfere in your prescribed medicines. Also, do not take any other medicine that is not recommended by your doctor. Do not alter the dosage by your own even if your symptoms change, and be very regular in taking medicines.

Whenever you visit your doctor, take your medicines with you. Even while calling your doctor on phone, keep your medicines with you so that you are ready for queries and discussion, if any.
Though you might be prepared for the side effects that your doctor had already told you, if the fever goes high, or if the nausea extends for many days, seek doctor’s opinion for any medicine to counter those side effects. Also ask if you can take some alternative medicine to minimize the side effects.

Do not work on any heavy machinery, and do not drive immediately after taking gout medicines since your medicine may leave you drowsy. Keep your medicines in a container and keep this container out of reach of children.

Carefully see if the gout medicines that you purchase are within the expiry period. Controlling gout is a slow process, so you can also take herbal treatment or home remedies, but only after discussion with your doctor.