4 Common Gout Drugs

It is not generally advised for prescription drugs when treating hyperuricaemia as these drugs are generally used when there is an attack on the kidney stones. The following are four common drugs that are used to keep gout symptoms under control.

1. Allopurinol â€" This inhibits uric acid synthesis and has been associated with eruptions of the skin and blood vessels as well as toxins in the liver. Renal function tests and overall complete blood counts of the patient should always be done before giving the patient Allopurinol.

2. Colchicine This drug is used to alleviate gout attacks. But this drug has side effects which can be very serious and in some cases can cause death if the dose is too high. Many stomach problems can occur when taking this drug such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and cramping. Some of the more serious side effects of the drug are problems occurring in the marrow of the bone, inflammation of the muscle, and anemia. If a patient has kidney function problems than Colchicine is generally not used or the doses are adjusted accordingly.

3. Indomethacin â€" This drug is an anti inflammatory drug which is not steroid based. Indomethacin is the drug that is used the most when the onset of gout attacks occurs. This drug also has a very high toxicity but by measuring the doses correctly the drug is a one that is very successful in the short term.

4. Prednisone â€" Prednisone is a drug that is becoming more widely used these days to treat gout. Prednisone is an immunosuppressive drug that is needed in some cases and is sometimes associated with long term side effects such as bone loss, cataracts, a weakening of the immune system, as well as others. Osteoporosis is a serious side effect that can occur with bone loss. The general side effects are longer healing and longer time fighting infections throughout the body with weakening of the immune system, retention of sodium, acne, night sweats, muscle and bone problems, and higher blood sugar.

As you can see from the above, although drugs will help to alleviate gout symptoms they are not without there side effects. If you are interested in avoiding or limiting the use of such drugs then there are natural ways to treat this condition.

High levels of uric acid in the blood can bring about gout so it is advantageous to try to limit the food intake if it is high in purine. Alcohol should definitely be cut out completely or at least limited as it is very high in uric acids, especially during a flare-up.

One way to help avoid getting gout is to flush out your system by trying to drink at least two to three liters of fluids every day. By drinking lots of fluids you can aid in diluting the uric acids that can bring about gout.

Try to moderate your protein intake such as fish, meat, and poultry. There are other foods rich in proteins which are low in purines such as dairy products and are lower in fat as well, like eggs and even tofu. Try to limit the amount of fat that you eat by choosing meats that are leaner and meats and foods that are prepared with less oil.

By following a diet that takes into account these suggestions it will aid your body in keeping uric acid levels low. If you can keep your gout under control through natural methods it means you can avoid the nasty side effects that come with the gout drugs mentioned above.

Please bear in mind that you should always consult a physician prior to making any dietary changes and you should never stop taking any prescribed medication without gaining physician approval first.