Gout Medications: Understanding Side Effects & Treatment Options

Gout is a form of arthritis that comes on suddenly, normally affecting the joint at the base of your big toe and causing severe pain. A number of different medications can be taken to treat gout; however, each poses a risk for various side effects.

Identification

• Medicines used to treat gout include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, colchicine, probenecid, oral or injected corticosteroid, and xanthine oxidase inhibitors such as febuxostat.

Side Effects

• Colchicine causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea in some patients, and xanthine oxidase inhibitors also pose a risk for nausea. Both xanthine oxidase inhibitors and probenecid lead to the development of skin rashes in some patients, whereas probenecid also contributes to the formation of kidney stones.

Features

• If you take a xanthine oxidase inhibitor before a flare-up of gout completely ends, a severe second attack could develop. Because of this, your doctor is likely to prescribe a low dose of colchicine to end the previous attack before recommending that you take a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, explains the Mayo Clinic.

Risks

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications pose a risk for severe stomach ulceration, as well as heart attack and cardiovascular disease, cautions the American College of Gastroenterology and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Corticosteroids pose a risk for slow wound healing and increased bacterial or viral infections, whereas xanthine oxidase inhibitors pose a risk for decreased liver functioning.

Considerations

• It may be necessary for you to try a number of different drugs or combinations of treatments before you find the right medication that controls your gout symptoms and prevents flare-ups without causing unpleasant side effects.