Gout

According to research from the National Gout Society, 1 in 40 people in the UK has gout, making it one of the most common conditions. While gout can go into remission, lots of sufferers experience frequent attacks, making daily activities challenging.

Combining medicine with dietary and lifestyle changes can lower the frequency of attacks. Pharmacy Online offers treatments to manage the symptoms of gout and reduce discomfort during attacks.

Our dedicated pharmacy team provide a convenient online consultation, so you don't have to head out when gout is getting you down. Once you choose a treatment and complete the assessment, we'll ship the medicine directly to your door.

What is gout?

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that impacts the joints, often causing swelling and pain. The condition occurs when uric acid builds up in the body. When the acid forms crystals, it causes symptoms of gout.

While most people associate gout with the big toe, it can also occur in other joints, including the:

• Ankles
• Hands
• Feet
• Wrists
• Knees
• Elbows

The condition isn't constant, and many people will have no symptoms for a while, followed by recurrent gout attacks. An attack can make the joint feel like it's on fire, with burning pains that get worse with even light touches.

What causes gout?

Gout occurs when there's a buildup of uric acid in the body. Uric acid is a waste product, formed from the breakdown of purines. In most cases, uric acid passes through the kidneys and into urine, but people with too much of it struggle to remove uric acid effectively.

If you have excess uric acid, or it cannot pass through the kidneys properly, crystals can form and lodge in joints.

But what causes excess uric acid?

Consuming a diet high in purines

Excessive consumption of purine-rich foods including scallops, mussels and mackerel can increase the risk of gout. Red meats also have a high content, and regular consumption can impact how your body manages uric acid.

While fish does contain purines, it also has numerous health benefits, so you don't need to avoid it altogether. However, moderating your purine intake and understanding the content of various foods and drinks can decrease your risks of gout.

Weight gain

When it comes to gout, body weight is a significant factor, with higher BMIs linked to the condition. According to JAMA Network, the chances of getting gout increase by 55% each time a person's BMI goes up five points.

People who are overweight produce higher levels of uric acid as the kidneys cannot eliminate it effectively. By losing weight, you can reduce the impact of gout and prevent recurrent attacks, as well as minimise instances of kidney stones and a range of other conditions.

Medical conditions

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney problems or metabolic syndrome, you're at increased risk of gout. As the kidneys are crucial in expelling uric acid from the body, people with impaired functioning have higher uric acid levels.

Heart disease, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome increase the amount of uric acid, too, leading to crystals forming.

Genetics and predisposition

Some people are more likely to experience gout if it runs in the family, while gender also plays a significant role in the condition. According to Science Direct, men have much higher incidences of gout than women, but the numbers level out as people reach old age.

Taking medications

Certain medicines are also linked to gout, including aspirin and hypertension levels. If you take beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors or thiazide diuretics, your risks of gout are higher. Also, people who take anti-rejection medicines after a transplant could also develop uric acid crystals.

Gout symptoms and complications

Gout causes a range of symptoms, but the most common include intense pain and burning sensation in one or more joints. You might also experience:

• Redness and inflammation on and around the affected joint
• An initial attack might subside, but the ongoing discomfort can linger afterwards
• Limited motion in one or more joints
• You might also develop a fever during a severe gout attack

If you have severe gout or don't get treatment, the condition can worsen and cause a range of severe complications.

Recurring acute gout attacks

Gout doesn't always occur, some people might experience ongoing attacks, while others only get one once a year. Even one attack can cause severe joint pain, and multiple gout attacks impact your quality of life and make performing daily activities difficult.

Tophi formation

Uric acid can form tiny grit-like crystals that appear as lumps under the skin in severe cases. While they don't usually cause pain, attacks can increase tenderness and compromise mobility. The crystals develop when your body can't regulate them properly and are often considered advanced gout.

Kidney stones

As the kidneys are responsible for turning uric acid into urine, it's common for kidney stones to form when they can't deal with uric acid correctly. Kidney stones can be excruciating as they might block urine from passing and often cause extreme pain in the back, sides and abdomen.

Diagnosing gout

Doctors diagnose gout based on your symptoms and the appearance of your joints, but there are also tests that confirm gout and rule out other conditions.

Blood tests

Blood tests will tell your doctor whether you have high uric acid levels, but they don't necessarily confirm a diagnosis. For example, some people might experience elevated levels but have no gout symptoms.

In cases like this, monitoring the levels and seeing if lifestyle changes can reduce them gradually can be a good idea.

Joint fluid test

Joint fluid tests - also known as joint aspiration - help diagnose gout, as they let your doctor check for uric crystals. Specialists use a needle or syringe to draw a small amount of fluid from the joint area and check it under a microscope for crystals.

The test can also identify other forms of arthritis and infections, helping your doctor understand what could be causing your pain.

X-rays and ultrasounds

Joint damage can occur due to injuries or a range of other conditions, and X-rays can help your doctor rule these out before making a gout diagnosis.

Ultrasounds are quite effective in identifying uric crystals, but DECT (dual-energy computerised tomography) uses different angles to visualise the crystals.

What triggers gout attacks?

In some cases, a gout attack occurs for no reason, but there can be contributing factors. Understanding them can help you prevent gout attacks and avoid the side effects. Potential triggers include:

• Injuries or simple knocks to joints
• Recovering from an operation
• Illnesses resulting in fevers
• High alcohol consumption
• Consuming fatty foods
• Having ULT (urate-lowering therapy) or not retaining a consistent schedule
• Dehydration

Medicines for gout attacks

There are certain medications available that relieve symptoms of gout attacks and can reduce their frequency. While medications aren't a fix-all solution, they can provide comfort and help you function during an attack.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are powerful medications that can treat gout pain and reduce inflammation. They're available in tablet form or injections for people with more severe joint pain and act very quickly. However, while corticosteroids have numerous benefits, they can also cause side effects.

Common effects include high blood pressure, mood changes and alterations to your blood sugar levels. A GP will tell you whether you can have corticosteroids or suggest alternative medications.

NSAIDs

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are highly effective in treating the pain and inflammation associated with gout. For less severe attacks, you can take over-the-counter medicines, including aspirin or ibuprofen, but stronger options are available.

Naproxen and Indomethacin are both more effective at treating severe pain and inflammation, but they can also cause ulcers, bleeding and stomach pain with frequent usage.

Colchicine tablets

As an effective anti-inflammatory medication, Colchicine 500mcg tablets are one of the first lines of treatment for gout. They work by reducing the activity of white blood cells, which prevents a severe response and relieves the effects of an attack.

Your Colchicine dosage will depend on whether you're using the tablets as a long-term medication or to treat attacks as and when they occur. However, it is known to offer numerous benefits and side effects are rare.

Some people notice vomiting and diarrhoea when they first begin taking the medicine, but they usually subside.

Medications for severe gout and associated complications

People with severe gout that frequently recurs or high amounts of pain with each attack might have access to other medications, which reduce the complications associated with the condition. People with tophi or kidney stones might have treatment options that lower uric acid.

Probenecid

Also known as Probalan, this medication can boost your kidney function, allowing them to remove uric acid from the body. However, some people are at higher risk of kidney stones, so it's important to discuss treatment options with your doctor.

Uric acid blockers

Some medications, including Febuxostat and Allopurinol, can also block your body from producing too much uric acid. While both can be effective, they also come with side effects, including an increased risk of heart problems and liver function.

Lifestyle changes to reduce gout symptoms

While you use medication to control symptoms of gout, you can also try making lifestyle changes. Making slight alterations to your diet and exercise routine can prevent the severe pain associated with recurrent gout attacks, making other treatment options more effective.

Switch your diet

A healthy diet can decrease your risk of getting gout. Cutting down on sugar and fatty foods and focusing on fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and protein gives your body essential nutrients that enable it to power through each day.

Reducing your BMI can also ensure less strain on your joints, reducing the chances of gout attacks. Some diets can cause more harm than good, including the Atkins diet, which focuses on eating large amounts of meat and fish.

Consume these foods in moderation:

• Seafood, including shellfish and oily fish
• Yeast extracts such as Bovril and Marmite
• Red meat, liver, offal and game
• Processed foods and alcoholic drinks, including beer

Consuming cherries and foods high in Vitamin C can reduce uric acid levels, while low-fat yoghurt and skimmed milk can decrease the prevalence of attacks.

Treat your gout with medications from Pharmacy Online

Gout can be a chronic condition that significantly impacts your life with its pain and inflammation. By making lifestyle changes, you can reduce the effects and look forward to fewer attacks, but medications can also help you deal with gout before it gets out of hand.

Pharmacy Online is a fully registered online medication provider with a team of licensed pharmacists. We offer Colchicine 500mcg tablets for gout without you dealing with the inconvenience of doctors or local pharmacies.

Complete a short online assessment

Once you choose your medication, we'll ask you to complete a short assessment determining your gout treatment eligibility. We'll then discreetly pack and ship the medicine straight to your door.

There are also express delivery options, giving you convenience and peace of mind. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.