Drugs Used to Treat Gout
Drug |
Some Side Effects |
Comments |
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) |
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All NSAIDs |
Upset stomach Bleeding Kidney damage High potassium levels Retention of sodium and potassium Swelling or high blood pressure (sometimes) |
Used to treat an acute (sudden) flare-up (attack) or to prevent a flare-up |
Antigout drugs |
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Colchicine |
Upset stomach and diarrhea Suppression of blood cell production in the bone marrow (occurs very rarely if the drug is used properly) Muscle pain and weakness (uncommon) Interaction with many other drugs, sometimes causing severe side effects |
Used to prevent and treat flare-ups |
Corticosteroids |
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Prednisone (taken by mouth) |
Retention of sodium, with swelling or high blood pressure Multiple side effects if used long-term |
Used to treat acute flare-ups |
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Prednisolone tebutate or triamcinolone hexacetonide (taken by injection) |
Pain Discomfort Joint damage with overuse Inflammation (occasionally) Infection (rarely) |
Injected into the joint if only one or two joints are affected |
Uricosuric drugs (drugs that increase uric acid secretion in the urine) |
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Probenecid |
Rash Nausea Vomiting Kidney stones |
Can be used long-term to lower blood levels of uric acid to prevent flare-ups |
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Lesinurad |
Kidney problems |
Must be used with allopurinol or febuxostat |
Drugs that block uric acid production |
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Allopurinol |
Upset stomach Rash (which can be serious) Decrease in the number of white blood cells Liver damage (rare) |
Can be used long-term to lower blood levels of uric acid to prevent flare-ups and to remove crystals in the body or stones in the kidneys |
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Febuxostat |
Nausea Joint pains Rash |
Especially useful in patients who cannot take or have not been helped by high doses of allopurinol |
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Pegloticase |
Bruising Constipation Nausea and vomiting High risk of mobilization flare-up Allergic reactions |
Can be used long-term to treat long-standing gout |