Gout - Treatment

The decision to use anti-hyperuricemic and if so, at what point, is not entirely clear, however. Some physicians do not prescribe them if hyperuricemia is mild or until a patient has had two attacks. Others prescribe them immediately after a single attack. Most of the time, antihyperuricemic therapy means taking a drug routinely throughout life, which many people find difficult.

Warning Note on Drug Treatments for Gout

It should be noted that many drugs used for gout can also precipitate acute gout symptoms and so should not be used until symptoms have subsided. The patient should then start with small doses that gradually increase.

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Surgery

Surgery is sometimes used to remove large tophi that are draining, infected, or interfering with the movement of joints. When infection is present, the procedure carries a high risk for complications. People most likely to have surgeryalso tend to have other medical conditions that might worsen the outlook. In one study, experts suggested that better preventive measures, such as the use of allopurinol, could reduce the need for surgery.

Several other surgical procedures are available for relieving pain in and improving the function of affected joints. It is sometimes necessary to replace joints.