Gout

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Gout

Name: Gout
Published: May 15, 2025

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Rated

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Summary

Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden and severe joint pain. Treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief and daily tablets for long-term management.

Gout: essential info
Causes
What are my options?
FAQ

Reviewed on May 16, 2025. by

Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell

Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer

Registered with GPhC (No. 2241935)

Next review due on May 16, 2028

Last updated on May 15, 2025

Find the gout treatment that’s best for you.

We’ve got a range of options, and our clinicians can help you find the one that’s best for your body and your budget.

Colchicine

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(12)

In stock

Daily tablet that effectively reduces inflammation and pain associated with gout.

Starting at $89.95

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Allopurinol

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(5)

In stock

A daily tablet that helps manage gout and prevent kidney stones by reducing uric acid levels.

Starting at $89.95

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Uloric

Febuxostat

In stock

Stops the production of uric acid to help relieve pain and inflammation.

Starting at $299.95

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Febuxostat

In stock

Febuxostat is a long-term treatment that helps prevent painful gout attacks by lowering uric acid levels in your blood.

Starting at $89.95

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Prednisone

In stock

An anti-inflammatory drug to help treat gout attacks. Typically used for quick, short-term relief.

Starting at $79.95

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What is gout?

Gout is a form of arthritis, which is where a joint (or joints) become inflamed, painful, and uncomfortable. Generally, it only affects one joint at a time (usually your big toe), but it can impact other joints such as your feet, hands, wrists, elbows, or knees.

It may flare up suddenly, often lasting for several days or even weeks, before going back into remission. You may experience recurring attacks, known as chronic gout.

Who gets gout?

Men over 30 are more susceptible to suffering from gout than women,^[1] and it’s more common amongst older people and ethnic minorities, particularly black people.^[2]

Other factors which can increase the likelihood of gout are:

obesity;
eating a diet rich in red meat, organ meats (like liver), or certain seafood;
genetics;
alcohol consumption;
women who have been through the menopause;
taking medicines such as diuretics (water tablets) or medicines for high blood pressure (i.e. ACE inhibitors);
medical conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney problems, osteoarthritis, or diabetes; and:
surgery (or if you’ve experienced an injury).

How common is gout?

Although not especially common, it’s estimated that in 2015-16, gout affected 3.9% of the US population (9.2 million people).^[3] Worldwide, it’s believed that as many as 6% of the population is affected at one time or another.

Treated trusted source:

Dehlin, M., et al. (2020). Global epidemiology of gout: prevalence, incidence, treatment patterns and risk factors. Nature reviews. Rheumatology, 16(7), 380–390.
Singh J. A. (2013). Racial and gender disparities among patients with gout. Current rheumatology reports, 15(2), 307.
Singh, G., et al. (2019). Gout and hyperuricaemia in the USA: prevalence and trends. Rheumatology, 58(12), pp.2177–2180.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on May 16, 2025. Next review due on May 16, 2028.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

What causes gout?

Gout is triggered by the build-up of a molecule called uric acid in the blood. If too much uric acid is produced or the kidneys cannot filter it out, it begins to accumulate and form tiny sharp crystals in and around the joints, causing them to become inflamed (swollen and red) and painful.

Certain foods which contain purines, including red meat, seafood, alcoholic drinks and sweetened drinks (which have fructose in them) can trigger higher levels of uric acid too.

What are the symptoms of gout?

Any joint can be affected by gout, although it’s often the ends of the limbs that are prone to it, such as toes, ankles, knees, and fingers. The affected joint can suddenly feel hot and very tender, with swelling in and around the area and red, shiny skin over it. It’s accompanied or followed by severe, long-lasting pain.

When an attack of gout occurs, it’s typically sudden and severe. Symptoms normally develop very quickly over a few hours and can last from a few days up to two weeks.

Can gout lead to other problems?

Almost everyone who experiences gout will at some point suffer from further attacks, usually within a year. These attacks or chronic gout can in turn lead to other problems, in which the joint can become damaged.

In addition, kidney stones are found in 14% of gout sufferers. Other, more severe complications associated with gout are chronic kidney disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and other heart problems.^[1]

Treated trusted source:

NICE. (n.d.). CKS is only available in the UK. [online]

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on May 16, 2025. Next review due on May 16, 2028.

How we source info.

What medications are there for gout?

Treatments can be given to both lessen symptoms and to help healing while attacks are ongoing.

Gout treatments include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling.
Colchicine, given during gout attacks to help reduce swelling, ease the pain, and lessen further build-up of uric acid crystals in your joints.
A short course of steroid tablets or injections, if pain or swelling persists or NSAIDs and colchicine are unsuitable.
Urate-lowering therapy (ULT), which helps to lower the uric acid levels in your blood and prevent further attacks.

Is there a ‘best’ treatment for gout?

What will work for one person may not be as effective for another. This will be dependent on the severity and regularity of symptoms, along with other health factors such as weight, diet, and age.

But gout flare-ups can be eased or prevented using the correct medication. Avoiding foods which are high in purines (so sugary drinks like sodas, seafood such as scallops, meats including liver, and alcohol), exercising regularly, and losing weight can also help.

Does gout always need treatment?

Often further attacks of gout can be reduced or prevented through simple lifestyle changes. These can include:

achieving a healthy weight;
eating a balanced diet low in fat and added sugar and high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber;
reducing intake of red meats, particularly liver and kidneys;
reducing intake of fish high in purine (for example, cod, haddock, salmon, trout, tuna);
reducing shellfish high in purine (such as lobster, clams, and crab);
cutting back on alcohol;
avoiding dehydration and drinking two liters of water per day;
reducing caffeine intake as it is a diuretic (reduces water in the body);
avoiding or reducing drinks sweetened with fructose ;
doing regular exercise (avoiding intense trauma to any affected joints);
stopping or reducing smoking; or:
taking vitamin C supplements.

How we source info.

Gout: FAQ

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

How is gout diagnosed?

Answer:

Gout is usually diagnosed by a physician, who will ask you about the severity, location, frequency, and duration of your symptoms.

If you do need to seek medical advice, fully explain the circumstances surrounding the onset of your symptoms, the severity and type, which will then help a doctor advise the right course of action for yourself.

Are there tests for gout?

Answer:

There are tests that can be undertaken to check if gout is what’s triggering your symptoms. Some specific tests such as x-rays of the affected joints, blood tests to establish uric acid levels and extraction and analysis of fluid from the joints (synovial fluid analysis) can be carried out to see if gout is the root cause of your symptoms.

Can you get side effects from gout treatment?

Answer:

Some people may experience side effects whilst others may not. As with most medications, these vary from person to person and the type of medication prescribed. You can find out more about possible side effects in the package insert that comes with your medication, or by speaking directly with a doctor.

For example, colchicine may include feelings of nausea, tummy pain, and diarrhea if taken in high doses, and steroids are usually only given in short dosages due to possible side effects such as weight gain, muscle loss, or osteoporosis (thinning of bones).

Does gout treatment always work?

Answer:

Although gout treatments are very effective in managing symptoms, some people might still end up with long-term (chronic) gout instead of just one flare-up. But even in these cases, the correct medication can help prevent more flare-ups or make the symptoms a lot easier to handle, especially when coupled with some lifestyle changes.

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