Gout

Conventional Medical Treatment

The standard medical treatment of acute gout is administration of colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug originally isolated from the plant Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus).

Over 75 per cent of patients with gout show major improvement in symptoms within the first 12 hours after receiving colchicine. However, as many as 80 per cent of patients are unable to tolerate an optimal dose because of its side effects

Potential Side Effects of Colchicine

Other anti-inflammatory agents used in treating acute gout included indomethacin, phenylbutazone, naproxen and fenoprofen.

Once the acute episode has resolved, a number of measures are taken to reduce the likelihood of recurrence:

Drugs to keep uric acid levels within a normal range.

Controlled weight loss in obese individuals.

Avoidance of known precipitating factors, such as heavy alcohol consumption or a diet rich in purines.

Low doses of colchicine to prevent further acute attacks.

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