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Gout Drugs are medicines that prevent
or relieve the symptoms of Gout, a
disease that affects the joints and
kidneys.
Purpose
Gout is a disease in which uric
acid, a waste product that normally
passes out of the body in urine,
collects and forms crystals in the
joints and the kidneys. When uric acid
crystals build up in the joints, the
tissue around the joint becomes
inflamed, and nerve endings in the area
become irritated, causing extreme pain.
Uric acid crystals in the kidneys can
lead to kidney stones and eventually to
kidney failure.
The symptoms of gout-severe pain usually
in the hand or foot (often at the base
of the big toe), but sometimes in the
elbow or knee, should be reported to a
health care professional. If not
treated, gout can lead to high blood
pressure, deformed joints, and even
death from kidney failure. Fortunately,
the condition is easily treated.
For patients who have just had their
first attack, physicians may prescribe
only medicine to reduce the pain and
inflammation, such as Non-steroidal
Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Corticosteroids
or Colchicine. Patients may also be
advised to change their eating and
drinking habits, avoiding organ meats
and other protein-rich foods, cutting
out alcoholic beverages, and drinking
more water.
Some people never have another gout
attack after the first. For those who
do, physicians may prescribe additional
drugs that either help the body get rid
of uric acid or reduce the amount of
uric acid the body produces. These drugs
will not relieve gout attacks that
already have started, but will help
prevent attacks when taken regularly.
Description
Three main types of drugs are used in
treating Gout.
Lopurin, Zyloprim reduces the
amount of uric acid produced in the
body.
Probenecid
Sulfinpyrazone help the body get
rid of excess uric acid. Physicians may
recommend that patients take more than
one type of gout drug at the same time. |
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