About gout
Gout treatment
Treatment has two goals: calm an acute attack, and — for people with recurrent gout — lower uric acid over the long term. Only a clinician should choose medicines for you.
In brief
- Anti-inflammatory medicines are often used for short attacks.
- Other options include corticosteroids or colchicine when suitable.
- Daily uric-acid-lowering therapy can prevent future attacks if you need it.
During an attack
Clinicians may prescribe anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), a short course of corticosteroids, or colchicine. Stomach protection is sometimes added.
These medicines are not safe for everyone — kidney disease, stomach ulcers, heart conditions, interactions, and pregnancy all matter. Follow the plan you were given; do not borrow someone else’s tablets.
Preventing more attacks
If attacks are frequent, tophi are present, or uric acid stays high, medicines such as allopurinol may be used long term to lower uric acid.
It can take months to see fewer flares. Blood tests and dose adjustments are common at the start. Do not stop preventive medicine suddenly without medical advice.
Other care
Sometimes a specialist injects corticosteroid into the joint. Hospital assessment is also used when the diagnosis is unclear or infection must be ruled out.
Lifestyle changes support medicines; they rarely replace them when uric acid needs active control.