How to Stop Gout Pain

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson | Medically reviewed by Jonas DeMuro, MD

Last Updated: January 10, 2023 References

You've probably heard of arthritis, but may not be as familiar with gout, an arthritic disorder. Also called gouty arthritis, gout is a painful disorder caused by high levels of uric acid in the tissues, joints, and blood. If you have gout, your body produces either too much uric acid or it doesn't excrete uric acid efficiently. Your doctor can work with you to treat gout with medication. You can also try to reduce your risk factors in order to treat gout and manage pain.^{[1]
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Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Medication Options

1
Talk with your doctor about your current medications. Several medications may increase your risk for gout. Immediately consult with your physician if you take any of the following:^{[2]
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- Thiazide diuretics (frequently used to treat edema and hypertension)
- Low-dose aspirin
- Immunosuppressant drugs
- Anti-rejection medication (such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus) following an organ transplant
2
Use allopurinol or febuxostat. Your doctor may prescribe a medication like allopurinol or febuxostat. These medications work to block the production of uric acid, which can cause gout. Your doctor may prescribe these if you have several attacks a year or if the attacks are painful.^{[3]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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- Febuxostat may cause changes to your liver enzymes. Allopurinol can cause skin rashes, anemia, and sometimes increased joint pain.^{[4]
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3
Take probenecid. You might get a prescription for probenecid, which increases the excretion of uric acid and can reduce complications from gout. This medication helps your kidneys remove uric acid, but it means that you'll have more uric acid in your urine. This can cause other health issues like kidney stones, stomach aches, or rashes. Always follow your doctor's dosing recommendations.^{[5]
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- Side effects of probenecid include headaches, joint pain, and rapid breathing.^{[6]
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4
Use a prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDS). To deal with serious attacks of gout, your doctor may want you to take an NSAIDS like indomethacin or celecoxib.^{[7]
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- Prescription NSAIDS can cause bleeding, ulcers, or stomach pain. Make sure to follow your doctor's dosing recommendation.
5
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Talk with your doctor about taking over-the-counter OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Your doctor might want you to take an OTC medication after you've taken higher dosage NSAIDS. This combination can stop an attack of gout.^{[8]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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- You'll probably be prescribed 800 mg of ibuprofen to be taken three to four times a day. OTC medications are usually used only during an attack, so stop taking them after your symptoms clear up.^{[9]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Dietary Changes

1
Cut back on purine-rich foods. Your body breaks down purine in food to produce uric acid which contributes to gout pain. Either avoid purine-rich food or limit your servings to two to four servings a week. If you've had kidney stones that contain uric acid or currently have an episode of gout, avoid purine-rich food completely. Foods rich in purine include:^{[10]
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Arthritis Foundation
Main organization devoted to arthritis support and education
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- Alcohol
- Sugary soft drinks
- Fatty foods such as fried foods, butter, margarine, and high-fat dairy products
- Organ meats. These foods have the highest levels of purines.
- Beef, chicken, pork, bacon, veal, venison
- Anchovies, sardines, herring, mussels, codfish, scallops, trout, haddock, crab, oyster, lobster, shrimp
2
Eat foods that lower your uric acid levels. Some foods can protect against high uric acid levels. Try to eat foods rich in phytate which can prevent kidney stone formation, including kidney stones with uric acid. To get phytate, eat two to three servings of beans, legumes, and whole grains every day. The following foods are also helpful in treating gout and kidney stones:^{[11]
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Pizzorno, JE., Murray, MT., Joiner-Bey, H. The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine, 2002, pg. 202-208.}
- Calcium-rich foods, including low-fat dairy products
- Tart cherry juice: Drink three to four 8-ounce glasses of organic juice every day for relief within 12 to 24 hours.
3
Take a supplement. There are several supplements that are recommended to treat gout. Consider taking omega-3 fatty acids (especially EPA), bromelain (which acts as an anti-inflammatory), or the B vitamin folate, quercitin, or Devil's Claw (all of which reduce uric acid levels). Take the supplements according to the manufacturer's dosing recommendations and always talk to your doctor before supplementing.^{[12]
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Pizzorno, JE., Murray, MT., Joiner-Bey, H. The Clinician’s Handbook of Natural Medicine, 2002, pg. 202-208.} Some supplements may interfere with medication.
- Bromelain is an enzyme that comes from pineapples and is often used to treat digestive issues.
- Anyone with gout should avoid supplemental Vitamin C or niacin. Both of these vitamins may increase uric acid levels.
4
Eat more vegetables. While you may be cutting a lot of foods out of your diet, don't forget to add healthy foods. Eat plenty of vegetables to get a variety of health benefits and nutrients.^{[13]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} While some vegetables (like asparagus, spinach, and mushrooms) contain purines, studies have shown they do not increase your chances of gout.^{[14]
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Arthritis Foundation
Main organization devoted to arthritis support and education
Go to source}
- Eating healthy is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. Losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight can keep your uric acid levels low.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Signs and Symptoms

1
Watch for gout symptoms. Don't be surprised if symptoms appear suddenly. They often occur at night. Symptoms are usually the most painful within the first 4 to 12 hours after the initial attack. These symptoms include:^{[15]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Intense joint pain: in feet (often at the base of the big toe), ankles, knees, or wrists
- Joint discomfort after the initial attack
- Redness and other signs of inflammation, like warmth, swelling, and tenderness
- Difficulty moving the affected joint
2
Consider your risk for gout. There are some risk factors you can't control, like a family history of gout or the prevalence of gout in adult men and postmenopausal women. But, you can control other risk factors like being overweight (or obese), untreated high blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart and kidney disease.^{[16]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Recent surgery or trauma also increases your risk for gout.
3
Get a diagnosis of gout. If you are unsure whether you have gout, talk with your doctor. Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and medical history. Further testing and lab work might be needed.^{[18]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source}
- Testing may include taking a sample of joint fluid, running a blood test to see your uric acid levels, or getting an X-ray, ultrasound, or CT scan (although imaging tests aren't usually used).^{[19]
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- Joint fluid is analyzed for the presence of urate crystals that are visible under the microscope.^{[20]
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