Think Twice Before Taking A Prescription For Gout

Doctors sometimes prescribe NSAIDs (which present a risk of stomach bleeding), corticosteroids (which can compromise your immune system) or other anti-inflammatory medications as “rescue medications” during a gout attack, but for long-term treatment, they prescribe drugs that help prevent the buildup of uric acid.

These drugs only work as long as you take them, and they carry the risk of some potentially harmful side effects:

• skin rash or sores, hives, or itching
• bleeding sores on lips
• blood in urine or stools
• chills, fever, muscle aches or pains
• nausea, or vomiting
• difficult or painful urination
• pinpoint red spots on skin
• shortness of breath
• troubled breathing
• tightness in chest
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in mouth or on lips
• sore throat and fever
• sudden decrease in amount of urine
• swelling in upper abdominal area

It seems like you might be trading relief of one symptom for some other problems. Are you prepared to take that risk?