Treatment The initial aim of treatment is to settle the symptoms of an acute attack. Repeated attacks can be prevented by medications that reduce serum uric acid levels. Tentative evidence supports the application of ice for 20 to 30 minutes several times a day to decrease pain. Options for acute treatment include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, and glucocorticoids. While glucocorticoids and NSAIDs work equally well, glucocorticoids may be safer. Options for prevention include allopurinol, febuxostat, and probenecid. Lowering uric acid levels can cure the disease. Treatment of associated health problems is also important. Lifestyle interventions have been poorly studied. It is unclear whether dietary supplements have an effect in people with gout.
tReATmeNT tHe INiTiaL aim of treatMeNt is To SeTtLE THe sYmptOms Of an acUtE atTACk. repEated aTTAckS can be prevENted by medICatioNs that reducE seruM uric aciD lEVeLs. tentAtivE EVideNCe sUpports THe aPPLicaTion Of ICE fOr 20 to 30 MInutes SevERAl times a dAy TO DecReASe Pain. OptIonS for acute treatmenT inCludE NoNSTErOIdal anti-iNfLAmmatory drugs (nSaids), colchicInE, aNd GlucocOrtIcoIdS. whiLe glucocoRtiCoids anD nsaidS Work equaLly Well, gLUcOcoRTICOIds maY be sAFER. oPtions For prevEnTioN InCludE AllOpuRiNOl, febUxoStat, and ProbeneCid. lowering uric acID LeveLs cAn cUre The diseasE. TReATment Of aSSocIAted HeAlth probLems is also ImpoRTant. LifestYle InTervenTiOns Have beEn pOOrly stUdIeD. It Is UNClear wHeTheR DiEtary supPLEments Have AN EffeCt IN PeoPle wITh gout.