Gout Medication: Best Options, Side Effects, and What Actually Works

When you’re dealing with a gout attack, a sudden, intense joint pain caused by uric acid crystals building up in the body. Also known as podagra, it often hits the big toe hard—sometimes so bad you can’t even wear socks. Gout isn’t just a one-time flare-up. Left unchecked, it can lead to joint damage, kidney stones, and chronic pain. That’s why gout medication, drugs designed to lower uric acid levels and stop inflammation during flares. Also known as anti-gout drugs, these treatments fall into two main buckets: ones that calm the pain right now, and ones that stop future attacks by fixing the root cause.

Most people start with NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen that reduce swelling and pain fast. Also known as pain relievers for gout, they’re the go-to for acute flares—but they don’t touch the uric acid buildup. If you can’t take NSAIDs, your doctor might turn to colchicine, a drug that blocks the body’s inflammatory response to uric acid crystals. Also known as Colcrys, it’s been used for gout for over 200 years and still works well, though it can cause stomach cramps or diarrhea if the dose is too high. For long-term control, allopurinol, a medication that stops your body from making too much uric acid. Also known as Zyloprim, it’s the most common daily pill for gout prevention. Some people need febuxostat instead, especially if allopurinol gives them a rash or doesn’t lower uric acid enough. These aren’t quick fixes. You might still get flares in the first few months of taking them because your body is clearing out old crystals. That’s normal. Your doctor might add low-dose colchicine during this phase to keep flares under control.

What you won’t find in most gout guides is how much lifestyle changes matter. Cutting back on beer, red meat, and sugary drinks helps more than any pill alone. But if you’re already on medication, knowing which one fits your body—and which ones to avoid if you have kidney issues or heart disease—is critical. The posts below cover real comparisons: how colchicine stacks up against newer drugs, why some people switch from allopurinol to febuxostat, and what to do when NSAIDs don’t cut it. You’ll also see how gout meds interact with other common prescriptions, what side effects actually happen in real life, and how to tell if your treatment is working. No theory. Just what people are using, what’s working, and what to watch out for.