Gout Prevention - Medications, Diet, and Lifestyle

If you are a gout sufferer with flare ups several times per year, you may interested in how to prevent the recurrence of painful bouts with gout. Preventative maintenance can be accomplished with prophylactic medications and careful dietary planning, to include drinking plenty of water, losing weight, and eating foods that may be high in purines in moderation. All will help in the prevention of gout.

Medications:

Medications that act to prevent future gout attacks are usually prescribed if you have had more than one attack of this condition, and after the second attack has resolved. These medications include:
Allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim) blocks uric acid production by limiting the amount of uric acid produced in the body. It is effective in lowering blood uric acid levels and prevent another gout attack. . Side effects include a rash and low blood counts.
Probenecid improves your kidneys' ability to eliminate uric acid from your body. This may lower your uric acid levels and reduce your risk of gout. Side effects include a rash, stomach pain and kidney stones.

Gout diet:

It is not written in stone that dietary changes help in gout prevention. However, you may want to consider choosing foods that have a lower purine content. Tips to do so include:

• Cut back on the amount of red meat and seafood you eat.


• Avoid alcoholic beverages.


• Eat more low-fat dairy products.


• Eat more complex carbohydrates, such as whole-grain breads.


• Choose smaller portion sizes and increase your physical activity to help you lose weight. Losing weight may may help to reduce uric acid levels in the blood. Fasting is not recommended as it may increase uric acid levels.

Lifestyle:

Taking good care of your body during an attack is one of the best measures you can take. Until your prescribed medications kick in, inflammation can be managed by:

Minimize how much animal protein you eat at each meal. It is advised to have no more than five to six ounces of lean meat, poultry or fish daily, particularly if you have gout. High-protein foods elevate uric acid levels. Organ meats (liver, brains, kidney and sweetbreads), anchovies, herring and mackerel contain a high levels of purines.
Avoid alcohol especially during a gout attack, as it prevents uric acid excretion by the kidneys.

Drink plenty of fluids, which help dilute uric acid in your blood and urine, which aids in preventing another attack of gout.

The Alternatives:

If you are not happy with how your medications are working, talk with your health care provider about alternatives to the medications you are taking, maybe even taking them in conjunction with your gout drugs. You want to make sure that any alternatives you may take do not interfere with the actions of any other meds you may currently be taking.

Many of these treatments have not been routinely studied, many doctors are more willing than ever before to go over these options with you. Whether these treatments are helpful or not is not fully known, so talking with your doctor can help weed out those that carry too much risk due to the unknowns about them.

Alternative treatments that have undergone studies include:

Coffee: Has shown to lower uric acid levels, though this has not proven just how it works.

Vitamin C: Supplemental vitamin C may decrease uric acid levels in your blood, . but has yet to be studied as a treatment for gout. Large doses of vitamin C may elevate uric acid levels. Your doctor can recommend an appropriate dose of vitamin C for you. Vitamin C is also available in fresh fruits and vegetables, especially oranges. Fresh and natural is always better for you.

Cherries: Eating cherries have shown to lower uric acid levels in studies that have ben conducted. Cherries, as well as other dark colored fruits, such as blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes and raspberries, is a safe way to supplement your gout treatment.
Other treatments that involve relaxation techniques can help you cope with a gout attack, such as deep-breathing exercises, meditation, aromatherapy, and hypnotherapy may help you to control the pain.

by Barb Hicks, RN