Gout Remedies and Treatment Options

… Continued …

Depending on the severity, sometime remedies and lifestyle approaches mentioned before are not enough – and medical intervention may be required during flare-up.

Your own preferences and current health can determine the kind of medications you need to take. The following treatment options may also be prescribed to help prevent the flares of gout from recurring.

Medicines for reducing the number of uric acid in the body

1. The use of medicine called ‘Probenecid’. It can help improve the function of the kidneys in removing uric acid. Stomach pain and rash are some side effects from this medicine.
2. There are also some medicines that can help block the production of uric acid in the body. One of them is xanthine oxidase inhibitors.

Medicines to help cope with the symptoms of gout

1. NSAIDs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are one of common medicines used to fight against inflammation in people with arthritis. They can help improve joint pain, too.
2. Other choices include corticosteroid and colchicine. They can be an alternative option if you cannot take NSAIDs.

The use of these pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medicines are usually prescribed for short-term use due to the risk of serious side effects if they are taken for long-term use (particularly if prescribed at high doses). Consult with your physician for more advice!

Alternative options that may help

Some alternative therapies are available. These include acupuncture, homeopathy, and the use of some herbs or supplements like glucosamine.

Unfortunately, most of these alternative options are not scientifically proved yet. For instance, though glucosamine has been widely used in arthritis treatment, but it has anecdotal evidence. While some studies show that it may work for arthritis, others find nothing.