How to Treat Gout

Gout is a painful type of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in your blood. When uric acid builds up, it forms sharp crystals in your joints. This causes sudden, severe pain, swelling, and redness—most often in the big toe. The good news is that gout is very treatable with the right approach.

Treating a Gout Attack

When a gout attack strikes, the goal is to reduce pain and swelling quickly. Doctors recommend three main options:

NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs): Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen or prescription-strength NSAIDs work well for most people. Take them at the first sign of an attack.

Colchicine: This prescription medicine works best when taken within 36 hours of symptoms starting. Low doses are just as effective as high doses but cause fewer side effects.

Corticosteroids: If you cannot take NSAIDs or colchicine, steroids can help. These can be given as pills or injected directly into the affected joint.

Long-Term Treatment

If you have frequent gout attacks (two or more per year), visible lumps called tophi, or joint damage, you may need urate-lowering therapy. This treatment lowers uric acid levels to prevent future attacks.

Allopurinol is the most common medicine for this purpose. It is usually started at a low dose and slowly increased. The goal is to get your uric acid level below 6 mg/dL. This dissolves the crystals over time and stops attacks from happening.

When starting urate-lowering therapy, you may have more gout attacks at first. Your doctor will likely prescribe a low-dose anti-inflammatory medicine to take for several months to prevent this.

Lifestyle Changes That Help

Along with medicine, certain lifestyle changes can reduce gout attacks. Limit foods high in purines, such as red meat, organ meats, and certain seafood. Cut back on alcohol, especially beer. Drink plenty of water. Losing weight if needed can also lower uric acid levels.

When to See a Doctor

See your doctor if you have sudden, intense joint pain, especially if the joint is red and warm. If you have a fever along with joint pain, seek care right away—this could be an infection. Work with your doctor to find the treatment plan that works best for you.