Medication for gout

[PJ71]

Zyloric ( alloprinol ) was recently recommended to me for gout. I've been taking 150mg for about a month with little or no improvement.

 

Can anyone recommend an alternative drug that's worked for them?

 

Thanks

[Upnotover]

I have taken it for years and in the beginning it took several weeks before it had an effect on my uric acid levels, did you do a blood test already?  I take now 300mg once a day.  No gout for years.

[Mutt Daeng]

10 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Zyloric ( alloprinol ) was recently recommended to me for gout. I've been taking 150mg for about a month with little or no improvement.

 

Can anyone recommend an alternative drug that's worked for them?

 

Thanks

My UK doctor prescribed 300 mg tablets. 1 per day was what I was taking when I suffered from gout. I see @Upnotover beat me to it.

[PJ71]

Thanks guys, i'll increase the dosage.

 

Any diet changes, food(s) / drinks to avoid. Had a look at a few different website and it almost suggests to avoid many foods, seafood / red meat etc?

[Mutt Daeng]

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

Thanks guys, i'll increase the dosage.

 

Any diet changes, food(s) / drinks to avoid. Had a look at a few different website and it almost suggests to avoid many foods, seafood / red meat etc?

I never changed my diet. I'm a carnivore and eat a lot of meat. I did cut down on my beer intake which seemed to lessen the attacks.

[Upnotover]

1 minute ago, PJ71 said:

Thanks guys, i'll increase the dosage.

 

Any diet changes, food(s) / drinks to avoid. Had a look at a few different website and it almost suggests to avoid many foods, seafood / red meat etc?

 

Food to avoid, yes, anything nice!  Fortunately once the drugs kick in that issue diminishes.  Thai doctors always warn against chicken, something they never did in the UK.

[PJ71]

Ok, excellent - thanks guys

[steven100]

19 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Thanks guys, i'll increase the dosage.

 

Any diet changes, food(s) / drinks to avoid. Had a look at a few different website and it almost suggests to avoid many foods, seafood / red meat etc?

PJ,   I use to suffer from severe gout in both ankles a few years back,  thankfully I haven't had an attack for some time.   Uralyt-U is a drink you can take that regulates your uric acid levels, it's in granula form and mixes with a glass of water I have every now and then.   It comes with paper test strips. 

 

Applurinol and Colchocin are the two tablet medications, although Colchocin gave me stomach sickness so I don't take it.  

 

For me,  it was beef & red wine were the worst,  if I have mince beef 2 times in a week I would certainly get gout,   

 

The most painful thing anyone can imagine ....  it was terrible for me...  couldn't stand the constant throbbing of pain ... 

 

 

[Tom89]

On 3/20/2025 at 7:41 AM, PJ71 said:

Thanks guys, i'll increase the dosage.

 

Any diet changes, food(s) / drinks to avoid. Had a look at a few different website and it almost suggests to avoid many foods, seafood / red meat etc?

Everyone has different triggers. When I was first diagnosed with  gout the doctor told me to give up beer, which I did for 2 years. It made no difference. I went back to drinking beer and eventually figured out that in my case gout is triggered by crustaceans, shellfish and spicy food. I still eat them, but much less than I used to. A doctor in Thailand also warned me to stay away from fish sauce, but that's a non issue since I don't use it anyway. 

[soisanuk]

Applurinol and Colchocin are the two tablet medications I take and have done so now for many years (originally prescribed by a Dr at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya recommended them as a preventative).

 

And yes, the Dr also recommended eating less chicken - but that was and is my main staple. I also eat beef fairly often.  I haven't had gout since taking these medications.

[Toby1947]

Allopurinol is a preventertive not a cure, and should not be taken whilst suffering a flare up of gout. Lay of the booze use an anti inflammatory when the flare up is over take a 300ml Allopurinol daily. If like me you'll never have gout again. 

[Toby1947]

On 3/20/2025 at 7:38 AM, Mutt Daeng said:

My UK doctor prescribed 300 mg tablets. 1 per day was what I was taking when I suffered from gout. I see @Upnotover beat me to it.

If you're taking them only when you suffer from gout you are taking them wrong, should be taking constantly.

[spidermike007]

I've had gout for about 20 years and I was taking 150 mg of allopurinol also, and I was getting attacks a couple of times a year. I went to a rheumatologist and she did blood work over a period of a few months and determined that I needed 450 mg a day, based on my body size. Now that I've upped the amount that I'm taking I haven't had any issues at all, so it's likely that 150 mg just isn't enough for you. 

 

Also contrary to the advice that I was getting when I got an attack Indoman (indomethacin) was much more effective than colchicine, which stopped working for me. 

[bassman37]

I have been taking 300mg daily of Allopurinol for over 10 years with not one reoccurrence of the gout. 

[wavodavo]

On 3/20/2025 at 10:44 AM, Upnotover said:

 

Food to avoid, yes, anything nice!  Fortunately once the drugs kick in that issue diminishes.  Thai doctors always warn against chicken, something they never did in the UK.

I used to get really painful gout attacks  35 years ago and eating shell fish set it off  300MG. alapurinol and no gout since and eating prawns no worries.

[pest]

I still have no real idea what triggers mine but since ive upped my watrr intake to 2 litres a day i have been gout free last few month with Zyloric 100mg

Stock cubes and gravy are loaded with purines that may lead to uric acid build up so no mince pies for me either

[tomazbodner]

There is something that works within 1-2 days by completely removing it... but it can have serious side effects. It's called Benzbromarone (Benarone).

 

Maybe discuss with the doctor on it?

[YayaManos]

On 3/20/2025 at 8:29 AM, PJ71 said:

Zyloric ( alloprinol ) was recently recommended to me for gout. I've been taking 150mg for about a month with little or no improvement.

 

Can anyone recommend an alternative drug that's worked for them?

 

Thanks

Try Tolchaine, The Colchicine is used to prevent or treat attacks of gout (also called gouty arthritis). This condition is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. An attack of gout occurs when uric acid causes inflammation (pain, redness, swelling, and heat) in a joint. The trade Colchis is more expend than Tolchainine

[Old Croc]

Used to take allipurinol (zyloprim), but still had attacks which I countered by increasing colchocin until it caused the runs, which stopped attacks.  

As stated in Thailand everyone has a tendancy to flap their wings when they find out you have gout, but chicken is no higher in purines than most other meats  Lists are available on line giving purine levels for most types of food. Avoid the high level ones.

My Uric acid level was 9 when I started taking febuxostat (Uloric) it nows sits around 4.  Much more expensive than alipuinol, but for many considerably better.

[Grumpy one]

On 3/20/2025 at 7:29 AM, PJ71 said:

Zyloric ( alloprinol ) was recently recommended to me for gout. I've been taking 150mg for about a month with little or no improvement.

 

Can anyone recommend an alternative drug that's worked for them?

 

Thanks

Colchicine works for me, 2 tablets then 1 an hour till pain eases

Easy to get at most chemists

The only downside is don't venture too far from a toilet   

[farangkinok]

On 3/20/2025 at 7:29 AM, PJ71 said:

Zyloric ( alloprinol ) was recently recommended to me for gout. I've been taking 150mg for about a month with little or no improvement.

 

Can anyone recommend an alternative drug that's worked for them?

 

Thanks

What follows is simply information for you to consider and not to be construed as medical advice. Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood and body tissues. The usual dosage of Allopurinol is 300mg/daily; however, you should go see a doctor who knows about gout (rheumatologist) rather than attempting to treat yourself. Allopurinol, the most common gout medication, can cause a severe, potentially life-threatening skin reaction called Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), especially in individuals with the HLA-B*58:01 allele. My doctor gave me a blood test to check for that HLA-B*58:01 allele before starting me on Allopurinol. There are other medicines that can help, such as Benarone (benzbromarone) and Probenecid. Benzbromarone is a uricosuric agent and non-competitive inhibitor of xanthine oxidase used in the treatment of gout, especially when allopurinol, a first-line treatment, fails or produces intolerable adverse effects. Probenecid works by removing the extra uric acid from the body. Probenecid does not cure gout, but after you have been taking it for a few months it will help prevent gout attacks. Colchicine 0.6mg tablets are effective for acute gout attacks, but should be taken under a doctor's supervision, because if misused, colchicine can have toxic and even fatal effects. Many doctors recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen for the pain caused by gout attacks; however, you should consider that NSAIDS can have very deleterious effects on your kidney function. Once again, I strongly recommend that you see a doctor who specializes in the treatment of gout for the safest and most effective treatment.   

 

P.S. - Being overweight is a risk factor. Drinking lots of water is essential to help flush out the uric acid. It is easy to find (on your choice of search engine) which foods to avoid; mainly foods that are high in purines, such as organ meats, red meat, chicken, and certain seafoods. Alcoholic beverages (particularly beer) should be avoided. I have read that eating cherries or drinking cherry juice may help reduce gout attacks. It is said that Vitamin C-rich foods may help lower uric acid levels.    

[Cameroni]

Forget Allopurinol, go with a Febuxostat.

 

Thank me later.

[farangkinok]

13 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Forget Allopurinol, go with a Febuxostat.

 

Thank me later.

Febuxostat is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor as Allopurinol is; however Febuxostat may increase your risk of having serious heart and blood vessel problems, such as unstable chest pain, heart attack, stroke, or death. Although it does not have this effect as often as Allopurinol, Febuxostat is a rare but important cause of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Once again, I urge you to consult a doctor who specializes in the treatment of gout, rather than trying to treat it yourself.   https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/febuxostat-oral-route/description/drg-20074780

[Jurg]

On 3/20/2025 at 7:29 AM, PJ71 said:

Zyloric ( alloprinol ) was recently recommended to me for gout. I've been taking 150mg for about a month with little or no improvement.

 

Can anyone recommend an alternative drug that's worked for them?

 

Thanks

A rigorous change of what I eat, to avoid the build up of uric acid worked for me a hundred percent 👌 

[No Forwarding Address]

4 minutes ago, Jurg said:

A rigorous change of what I eat, to avoid the build up of uric acid worked for me a hundred percent 👌 

I used to have high Uric acid, then cut out all beef/pork inards, brain, heart, liver, lungs (in soups)  all the ‘expensive’ processed meats - it’s not called the rich man’s ailment for nothing

Haven’t had an episode in over fifteen years.   Peace

[Sheryl]

@PJ71

While you might indeed benefit from a different dose of allopurinol or an alternative drug it is unwise to self prescribe. This drug has signficant potential side effects and interactions with other medications   (as does colchicine which is sometimes used during an attack).  Liver and kidney function need to be monitored.

 

Seek the advice if  a rheumatologist  for the medications.

 

Diet, you can adjust on your own.  See https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/gout-diet/art-20048524