Gout
Key points about treatments
There are treatments that may relieve your pain and swelling during an attack of gout, but they can all cause side effects. There are also things you can try to prevent your gout from returning. But the research into gout treatments is not very good, so we can't be sure how well they work.
- A short course of anti-inflammatory painkillers (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) should ease your symptoms.
- Colchicine is a medication that's been used to treat gout for a long time, but it often causes vomiting and diarrhea.
- If you get repeated attacks of gout, you could take a medication called allopurinol to try to stop it from coming back.
- Making some simple changes to what you eat and drink may lower the urate levels in your blood. This might stop your gout from returning.
- There are some things you can do yourself to manage the pain of a gout attack. For more information, see Self-help during an attack of gout.
This information was last updated on Nov 10, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
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