Anti-gout medicines: What They Do, Medicines
Anti-gout medicines are prescription medicines used to relieve a gout attack or to help prevent attacks. They include colchicine, which eases the joint inflammation, and uric acid-lowering medicines such as allopurinol. Which one is used depends on the person, and the doctor decides.
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
How do Anti-gout medicines work?
Colchicine calms the white blood cells that gather around uric acid crystals in a joint, so there is less swelling and pain. It does not lower uric acid; other gout medicines do that.
Active ingredients of this type
These active ingredients belong to Anti-gout medicines. They are listed A to Z.
- Colchicine: Colchicine is a prescription medicine used to relieve the pain and swelling of a gout attack.
Common questions
Is there more than one kind of gout medicine?
Yes. Some, such as colchicine and NSAID painkillers, ease an attack. Others, such as allopurinol and febuxostat, lower uric acid to prevent attacks. Your doctor decides which suits you.
Can colchicine be taken in larger amounts for a bad attack?
No. Taking more than prescribed can be dangerous. Take it exactly as the doctor says and contact your doctor if the pain is not controlled.
Sources
- Colchicine: a medicine to treat gout. NHS (UK)
- Gout. NHS (UK)
- ATC/DDD Index: M04A Antigout preparations. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- National Formulary of India. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission