Medications to lower uric acid levels - allopurinol, probenecid or sulfinpyrazone - usually are taken indefinitely. If discontinued, the uric acid level will rise again and attacks of gout are likely to resume.

When your doctor prescribes a medication to reduce uric acid in your blood, he or she also should prescribe a second medication to prevent a gout attack. That's because any change in uric acid levels, up or down, can trigger an attack. These preventive medications can include a low dose of colchicine or a low dose of an NSAID. Once the uric acid is lowered enough, the preventive medication can be stopped.