A Different Kind Of Uric Acid Treatment

Content

• Don't Take Certain Medications
• Michigan Medicine
• Take Your Prescription Drugs
• The Role Of Diet In Gout Prevention

If your gout is severe, prolonged, or chronic, you may need to take daily serum uric acid-lowering medication to reduce your uric acid levels. Your doctor will put you on the lowest dose possible of medications such as uricosuric drugs or xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Doctors usually prescribe allopurinol for patients who overproduce urates or have tophi, kidney disease, or kidney stones. Allopurinol is useful in preventing recurrence of gouty attacks. It blocks the production of uric acid and decreases the formation of purine. For patients who have difficulty getting rid of uric acid through the kidneys, medications to help the kidneys remove more uric acid from the blood may be prescribed as well.

Make sure to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day when taking allopurinol. Patients who are overweight and have high blood pressure can also be at risk for gout. This usually occurs in the 20’s and 30’s, but it is becoming more common in young individuals. Many people will have another attack in the next 6 to12 months. The conditions that cause gout and kidney disease include uromodulin kidney disease and inherited kidney disease due to mutations in renin.

People who have hyperuricemia, but no other problems, usually do not require medications. A period of time when there are no symptoms at all, followed by other acute severe attacks. A sudden onset of joint pain and swelling that goes away after five to 10 days . Some people have one episode and never have any other problems with it. Others have several episodes along with lasting joint pain and damage. Gout is a disease that causes sudden severe episodes of pain and tenderness, redness, warmth and swelling in some joints.

Don't Take Certain Medications

Also called asymptomatic hyperuricemia, in this beginning stage of gout, uric acid is building up in the blood and starting to form crystals around joints, most often in the foot. A diet that avoids foods high in purine, high-fructose drinks, and alcohol can lessen your long-term risks. If you use medicines like diuretics, stopping that use can help prevent gout as well.

However, kidney disease in the primary reason most people have gout. The crystals cause acute attacks of pain, heat, redness and swelling in these joints, which can be painful and debilitating. Over time, chronic gout occurs when lumps or “tophi” develop on the elbows, earlobes, fingers, knees, ankles and toes. For those with a higher level, for example, 10.0 mg/dL, diet alone will not usually prevent gout.

En español | Gout isn't just for paunchy Pickwickians who overindulge in Stilton cheese and a tawny port. More than 8 million Americans have this painful and potentially disabling form of arthritis, and that number is rising. Indeed, gout is now the most common type of inflammatory arthritis in men over age 40. So far, there are no drug treatments to prevent the formation and deposit of these crystals in the joints. Researchers continue to look for pharmacological and other biologic therapies that might prevent, if not cure, gout for those who suffer from symptomatic outbreaks.

Michigan Medicine

Because of this lack of fluid, the urine is unable to dissolve all the uric acid. Deposits also may form as a result of metabolic abnormalities such as the body's inability to make urine-less acid. With some people, a diet rich in foods that further increases the production of uric acid may increase their chances of developing kidney stones. If your doctor suspects that diet is a contributing factor, you may be asked to collect several urine samples.

What color is uric acid in urine?

Figure 1 Reddish-orange discoloration of urine. Note the sedimented uric acid crystals in the urinary catheter. Figure 2 Urine microscopy showing rosettes and rhomboid-shaped crystals of uric acid.

Even among people who do start on a drug, many stop taking it. “People with gout may not realize that this is a chronic disease, and we can cure it,” Dr. Mandell notes. Follow these natural home remedies to control high levels of uric acid. Here are five great home remedies may help you control high levels of uric acid. The pain from a gout attack usually gets better in 3 to 10 days. An exam and tests will show if it’s gout or something else, like an infection.

That effectively reduces the risk of those kinds of attacks. But even if one occurs, it's not necessary to stop taking the uric-acid-reducing medication. Medications called xanthine oxidase inhibitors limit the amount of uric acid your body produces. Colchicine, which decreases the inflammatory response to gout, may also be given along with allopurinol at the start of long-term treatment after a flare subsides.

Is chocolate good for gout?

Chocolate can lower uric acid crystallization, according to a 2018 study . Lowering uric acid crystallization can be key to controlling your gout. Chocolate has polyphenols associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Inflammation reduction is helpful in providing relief from a gout attack.

Fresh, frozen, juice or extract forms are commonly consumed, however there are no defined amounts to eat per day for gout prevention. Studies vary widely in the amounts of cherries researched, such as servings of 1/2 cup of fresh cherries or 1 cup of cherry juice per day. For cherry extract supplements, it is best to follow the suggested dose amount on the label. Cherries have been studied for their role in the prevention and management of gout. Their deep red color is due to natural compounds called anthocyanins, which contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only.

Gout Symptoms

Treatment for flares consists of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, steroids, and the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and Tylenol®- such as naproxen sodium and ibuprofen may provide relief of gout-related pain. Causes of high uric acid levels can be primary , and secondary .

Key Points About Gout

High levels of sugar in the body lead to a number of serious health problems including gout. The excess of uric acid leads to the formation of small crystals of urate . Some of these crystal deposits form in the synovial fluid that then cause inflammation and result in this painful condition. Gout cannot be cured, but it can be very successfully treated. The main goal of treating gout is to reduce the amount of urate in the blood. A program to control uric acid levels and manage symptoms often includes daily colchicine and allopurinol or probenecid along with dietary restrictions.

Either soak in a bath with half a cup of charcoal powder or create a paste with charcoal powder and water and apply to the affected area. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and avoiding foods high in purine are the best things you can do to manage your condition. Talk with your health care provider or registered dietitian if you need advice on how to make positive dietary changes to improve your health overall. This test may also be done to check whether a high uric acid level in the urine is causing kidney stones. Ideally, doctors aim for a target uric acid level of less than 6.0mg/dL (360 µmol/L) for most people with hyperuricemia associated with gout. If you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint, see your doctor for a diagnosis.

Some NSAIDs are available over-the-counter, like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Stronger NSAIDs like indomethacin and celecoxib must be prescribed by a doctor. Gout flare-ups respond well to treatment with oral anti-inflammatory medicines and may be prevented with other medication and diet changes, Greenberg said. These include coffee, low-fat dairy products and particularly yoghurt, high doses of vitamin C, cherry or lemon juice, soya and lentils. When a flare begins, increase the amount of vitamin C in your diet or try drinking tart cherry juice. Gout is a common disease and appears to be becoming more common over time.

However, in September 2020, The Lancet published the FAST trial, which is a European trial very similar to the CARES trial, found a different result. Here, there was no difference in death rates in patients on febuxostat compared to those on allopurinol. Some have called for the FDA to reconsider its recommendations, but no changes made to date. The FAST trial gives considerable comfort to those patients presently on febuxostat.

Family Caregiving

forming so you have fewer flares and can take control of gout. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.