Treatments
The goals of treatment are to ease pain and inflammation and to reduce uric acid levels in order to minimize the potential for future attacks and the potential for joint and kidney damage.
During acute attacks, patients may be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve pain and inflammation and if necessary with corticosteroids like prednisone.
Drugs, such as probenecid or sulfinpyrazone, which lower uric acid and allopurinol, which blocks the enzyme that produces uric acid, may be used to decrease the number and severity of future attacks.
Patients can also make lifestyle changes to minimize gout attacks. Some examples include minimizing alcohol consumption, eating only moderate amounts of high-protein foods, and increasing fluid intake to help the kidneys flush out uric acid.
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