Thursday, May 13, 2010

Side Effects of Common Gout Drugs

How long it takes to heal the gout at my foot?" In order to answer that question, we must first clarify what is the definition of "heal" for the person who asks. Does he mean healing the pain cause by a gout attack at that moment? Or it is about healing or curing the gout once and for all so that it will not attack again? The former is a about a short term instant fix while the latter one is about a gradual long term cure.

For short term fix, the easiest and fastest way it by taking some medication such as NSAIDS or indomethacin to kill the pain and reduce the inflammation. For acute attacks, cortisone (hormone steroid) injection is used, but it should not be used for extended periods because of its potential harmful side-effects.

Usually for those just begun to suffer mild gout attack, doctor will prescribe a drug called colchicines which is a toxic natural extract from the seeds of a plant called autumn crocus or scientifically as Colchicum autumnale. But colchicines, too, has some serious potential side effects including numbness in the hands and feet, abdominal pain, vomiting, hair loss, weakness, vomiting, or abnormal bleeding.

For those patients how have constant high uric acid level, Allopurinol is prescribed to inhibit the formation of uric ucid, possible side effects of allopurinol is skin eruptions, liver toxicity, and minor weakening of kidneys by forcing the kidneys to work extra hard to excrete the uric acid.

The latest gout drug, febuxostat which is another inhibitor of uric acid formation was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on February 16, 2009. Febuxostat has proven to be very beneficial in reducing urate levels. More than 80 percent of patients taking the drug that shows drop in uric acid level, this figure almost double the percentage of those who take allopurinol.

Above are all short term fixes for gout of hyperuricemia, none of them can effectively remove the root of the problem once and for all, but they does provide temporary relief from the intense gout pain. Once you have started on those medications, chances are high that you will have to depend on them for the rest of your life.

Gout begins from what you put into your mouth over the years. It is a direct result of your daily diet. Thus, the only way to cure gout forever is by changing your eating habit and your lifestyle. It is not an easy process, it requires strong personal discipline and perseverance but it is definitely free from any side-effects and 100 percent safe.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heemen_Ee

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