Medical Treatment for Gout

 For an acute gout attack the first choice would be a prescription NSAID such as Indomethacin (indocin), this will reduce the inflammation and swelling, and for pain, depending on how severe codeine or pethidine may be prescribed.Colchine may be givento slow the immune reaction, and other antigout drugs may be given to slow the production of uric acid.

There wll be some lifestyle changes recommended, if you are overweight you will be strongly advised to lose your excess, for obesity is often associated with gout, particularly in males. Losing weight by means of crash diets will increase uric acid levels, and for this reason they are to be avoided at all costs. Also high protein diets such as the Atkins, Zone or Sugar Busters are to be avoided for the same reasons. Increasing animal proteins results in increased uric acid levels, and will make your gout worse.

You will be advised to cut down on your alcohol intake for alcohol dehydrates, and so increases uric acid while it inhibits it's excretion.You will be advised to keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, this will assist the removal of uric acid from your system.

If you are taking a diuretic drug for high blood pressure or a heart problem, it may worsen your gout because it's effect is to increase urine output.Read more:Gout Drugs and Their Possible Side Effects