Treatment and remedies for gout that you need to know
Gout is a common type of Arthritis that causes inflammation in one joint and begins suddenly. It is usually caused due to the buildup of crystals of uric acid in a single or multiple joints. A single bout of gout usually lasts anywhere between 36 hours to 10 days. Despite the sudden onset and intense pain, gout attacks peak and resolve within a week or two and disappear completely. The best way of gout treatment is to have the fluid removed from an inflamed joint and to examine it under a microscope for traces or a certain quantity of uric acid crystals. The most reliable way of gout treatment is to start medication to lower the quantity of uric acid in the affected joints. If left untreated, it can cause irreversible joint impairment, kidney problems and tophi, i.e., which is a medical term for permanent deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint. Let us look at some of the treatments and remedies that can be utilized to keep gout under control. These are gout treatments that work.
Gout Treatment and Remedies
Keeping in mind that the most common factors of gout include genetics, obesity, certain medications such as diuretics and a lowered kidney function, it’s safe to assume that the secrets to the gout treatments lie primarily in the changes you make in your lifestyle. However, it should be remembered that if you have had a gout attack once before, it’s advisable to consult your doctor to help you control uric acid levels through medication and prevent future attacks. By following such a two-prong approach through medication as well as lifestyle changes, it can be assured that your gout would be in control.
Medication
When the gout is severe, frequent and complicated, i.e., in multiple joins, it becomes imperative to be treated with medication through consultation with certified rheumatologists.
The most common gout treatments used to treat an acute gout attack are as follows–
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs are a common medication advised in the list of medications for gout. The help quickly relieves the pain and reddened swelling caused in the joint in a gout episode and can shorten the attack especially if taken in the first 24 hours itself.
- Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids can be taken orally or injected into an affected joint to relieve the pain of a sharp gout attack. They can also be injected if relief is not caused by oral medication. They usually start working 24 hours after you have taken them.
- Colchicine
Colchicine is another such medication that has been proven to be useful in the treatment of gout. This medication helps relieve the pain and swelling in the joint if taken at the first signs of an attack. Side effects may include diarrhea, nausea and abdominal cramps. This is one of the gout remedies that work.
- Medicines that reduce uric acid levels
The medications mentioned below only help in relieving the pain and swelling caused by Gout. The following are medications that help directly reduce and contain the levels of uric acid in the body to keep the condition from becoming chronic.
- Allopurinol
Allopurinol reduces the production of uric acid and is often prescribed at a low dose initially. Occasional side effects include skin rashes and an upset stomach which goes away as your body adjusts to the drug. Severe cases may see an allergic reaction to the drug.
- Febuxostat
Febuxostat is similar in action to allopurinol. It is only prescribed if the patient has severe reactions to allopurinol and uric acid levels remain high. Side effects can include nausea and joint pain.
- Probenecid
Probenecid acts on the kidneys to help them lower the levels or eliminate the uric acid in the body. It is usually prescribed daily in combination with antibiotics. Common side effects may include kidney stones, upset stomach, and nausea.
- Lesinurad
Lesinurad is an oral drug which aids in the elimination of uric acid. It is usually prescribed in combination with allopurinol or febuxostat, to enhance its effectiveness for patients whose gout cannot be controlled by either of the two drugs alone. Common side effects include headache, nausea, kidney stones and an upset stomach.
- Pegloticase
Pegloticase is only used in severe cases of gout when standard medications are unable to lower the uric acid level. This condition is known as refractory chronic gout. It is administered every two weeks through intravenous infusion. This is a very potent drug which can lower uric acid levels even lower than other medications. Side effects can include vomiting, chest pain, bruising, nausea, sudden gout flares, infusion reactions, and constipation.
- Lifestyle changes
It should be noted that a healthy lifestyle habit is an undeniable aspect of an effective gout treatment recipe. Speaking specifically for people with type 2 diabetes, studies have shown that diabetes and gout are linked. The high pressure and insulin resistance caused by type 2 diabetes can increase acid levels in the body thus causing gout attacks. So, an effective gout diabetes treatment plan would include the following lifestyle changes –
- More vegetables in the daily diet.
- Less or no intake of sugar including drinks and foods that have high sugar.
- Fruits those are low in sugar.
- Lots of water.
- Whole grain foods
You should also remember that the effective suppression of gout with little reliance on external medication requires a sincere and lifelong adherence to good lifestyle habits. These two ways of gout treatment are sure to keep the occurrences of gout under control.
