Lifestyle changes, such asdietary and alcohol restrictions, may reduce the frequency of attacks.
Chronic flares may require prescription medications to help reduce uric acid levels in the blood.
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Treatment for goutmay start with lifestyle changes to manage mild symptoms.
Verywell
The goal is to help reduce symptoms and prevent future attacks.
Gout symptoms are brought on by the excessive buildup of uric acid, a condition known ashyperuricemia.
Wrap the ice pack in a thin towel, taking care to never apply ice directly to your skin.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Use the cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times per day.
Keep off your feet as much as possible.
If you oughta move about, consider using a cane or crutches.
A lower weight will also take pressure off your joints, reducing pain and inflammation when flares happen.
Dietary Interventions
Hyperuricemia can be linked to the foods we eat.
Other foods contain substances that make it harder for your kidneys to eliminate uric acid efficiently.
Adhering to this diet can assist with weight loss and lead to reduced uric acid levels.
Aspirin should not be used because it increases uric acid and can worsen a flare.
Prescriptions
For some people, dietary and lifestyle changes may provide adequate relief from gout pain.
Among the options:
Colchicine:This oral anti-inflammatory drug is used to prevent and treat acute gout attacks.
Corticosteroids:When taken orally or by injection into a joint, corticosteroids offer short-term relief from acute symptoms.
The drugs work by suppressing inflammation and reducing immune system activity.
They are generally not used as a form of ongoing therapy.
These can either decrease uric acid production or increase how much is eliminated from the body.
It is typically recommended as a first-line treatment for most patients with gout.
In addition, allopurinol is typically given with colchicine to reduce the short-term risk of a gout attack.
Allopurinol side effects include stomach upset and rare, but often serious, skin reactions.
Ask your prescribing provider if you are at risk for severe allopurinol reactions.
Side effects are far less extensive than other uric acid-reducing drugs and may include rash and stomach upset.
Stomach problems usually go away as your body adjusts to the medication.
Taken daily, Uloric can reduce the severity and frequency of attacks.
Flare-ups are common when first starting treatment.
Krystexxa (pegloticase):This isa newerbiologic drugdelivered by intravenous (IV) infusion into a vein.
It is only used when other treatments have failed.
Krystexxa works by converting uric acid into a substance called allantoin, which your body can easily eliminate.
After repeated doses,serious allergic reactionsmay occur.
Both can aid in reducing uric acid levels in the blood.
During a flare, OTC medications like Tylenol can reduce pain.
NSAID pain relievers like Advil can be used if you don’t have chronic kidney disease.
That said, when you are in remission, your treatment shouldn’t stop.
This can help you prevent complications like joint damage down the line.
However, prescription anti-inflammatories or corticosteroids are typically used to treat a gout attack.
Your healthcare provider will also likely prescribe medication to lower uric acid levels.
To treat an acute gout attack at home, try ice and elevation to relieve the pain.
Apply an icepack or cold compress to the affected joint for 15 to 20 minutes several times a day.
Just be sure to keep a towel between your skin and the ice.
Staying off your feet can also help to relieve the pain.
Drinking lots of water is the best way to flush uric acid out of your system.
During a gout attack, drinking 16 8-ounce glasses of water daily is recommended.
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