Gout disease treatment

During a flare, treatment is aimed at reducing inflammation and pain. Options may include an anti-inflammatory medicine, colchicine or a steroid, depending on your health, other medicines and the timing of the attack. Long-term urate-lowering treatment works differently: it reduces urate so crystals can gradually dissolve and flares become less likely. A clinician may recommend this when attacks recur, crystals cause complications, or gout has affected joints over time. Kidney function is relevant when choosing and dosing medicines.

Take medicines exactly as directed and tell the prescriber about kidney disease, stomach ulcers, heart problems, pregnancy, allergies and all supplements. If you use urate-lowering treatment, do not stop it during a flare unless your clinician tells you to; the plan may need an additional flare medicine. Keep follow-up appointments so symptoms, urate levels and medicine effects can be reviewed. Regular fluids, balanced eating and gradual weight management can support care, but they do not replace prescribed treatment.

Seek urgent assessment for fever or chills with a hot swollen joint, severe illness, or rapidly worsening redness, because infection can resemble gout. Contact a clinician promptly if treatment causes a rash, breathing difficulty, unusual bruising, severe diarrhoea, or if pain remains uncontrolled. New knee swelling or ankle swelling should not be assumed to be gout.

Ask which medicine is for flares, whether long-term urate lowering fits your situation, what target your clinician uses, and which symptoms mean you should stop a medicine and call.