Allopurinol: The Best and Recommended Medication for Gout

Allopurinol: The Best and Recommended Medication for Gout

© 2010 Dr.P. Elayaraja

A person who had suffered the pain of gout will never forget it throughout his life. Gout is a painful inflammatory arthritis caused by elevated uric acid levels in the blood. When too much uric acid builds up, crystals form and cause swelling and inflammation of joints. Fluctuations in the uric acid levels in the blood are the major cause for pain, but it is not a rule that gout patients will have a high uric acid level in the blood. Allopurinol is a good a medicine used to reduce the uric acid levels.

(Pic: Uric acid crystals)

Obesity, high blood pressure and alcohol consumption make people prone to this condition. Women have a lower risk of contacting gout than men. Older men and women have an even higher risk of contacting gout.

Allopurinol: This drug inactivates the enzyme xanthine oxidase, thereby controlling the production of uric acid. Severe pain is not necessarily related to higher levels of uric acid. The dosage for allopurinol is prescribed according to the blood uric acid level. Allopurinol should be continued in order to maintain the uric acid level in the blood below 6 grams. This drug is not a pain killer or analgesic, therefore a gout patient must have an additional pain killer if the pain is severe.

There are several other benefits of allopurinol. Kidney disorders and resulting uric acid increase can be controlled using this drug. High uric acid levels in cancer cells can be treated with allopurinol. A daily intake is 100 mg per day is a normal dosage prescribed by the doctors, but the dosage may go up to 300 mg.

Allopurinol does not cause any side effects, although rarely vomiting, rashes and Steven Johnson’s syndrome can be seen in some cases. Moreover, allopurinol intake along with vitamin C increases the urine acidity and increases the risks of kidney stones.

Other medications or vitamin doses should be consumed with allopurinol only after consulting the treating physician.

Warning: Always consult your doctor – do not self medicate.

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© 2010 Dr.P. Elayaraja