Should i start on a course of colchicine to treat my gout?
The first treatment should be pain relief. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, the drugs of choice are Indometacin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or intra-articular glucocorticoids, administered via a joint injection. Colchicine was previously the drug of choice in acute attacks of gout. It impairs the motility of granulocytes and can prevent the inflammatory phenomena that initiate an attack of gout. Colchicine should be taken within the first 12 hours of the attack and usually relieves the pain within 48 hours. Its main side-effects (gastrointestinal upset) can complicate its use. NSAIDs are the preferred form of analgesia for patients with gout. Before medical help is available, some over the counter medication can provide temporary relief to the pain and swelling. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can reduce the pain and inflammation slightly, although aspirin should not be used as it can worsen the condition. Preparation H hemorrhoidal ointment can be applied to t
