Some popular gout medications are:

-Allopurinol
-Sulfinpyrazone
-Febuxostat
-Probenecid

Gout medications are used for three main reasons:

1) To relieve the pain associated with gout symptoms. These are usually over-the-counter pain relievers that contain acetaminophen such as Tylenol. Gout patients should avoid taking medications containing aspirin, because the aspirin will prevent the kidneys from excreting uric acid.

2) To reduce joint inflammation. These gout medications are usually also over-the-counter medications that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients. Prescription anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed such as colchicine and corticosteroids.

3) To reduce the levels of uric acid in the blood. Gout medications to manage the uric acid levels focus on managing the metabolic problems that may cause the increased levels. These medications work to either decrease the production of uric acid from the purine in the foods that are eaten, or increase the kidney’s excretion of the uric acid. These gout medication are usually implemented after a gout attack, because for some reason the symptoms can worsen if the person begins to take the medication during the gout attack.

You should always contact your health care professional before taking a gout medication.