Gout Support Group

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals in joints. It is an intensely painful disease, which in most cases affects only one joint (monoarthritis), most commonly the big toe. The classic picture is of excruciating and sudden pain, swelling, redness, warmness and stiffness in the joint. Low-grade fever may also be present.

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TeamDS 10/12/2006

Tell us about your personal experience with Allopurinol as a treatment: Has it worked? Have you had any issues? Any recommendations or tips?

DarrellWade 01/18/2007

I don't think I have ever had an acute attack of gout while I have been taking allopurinol.
I have been taking it off and on for 26 years. In the beginning the Dr would put me on it while my uric acid levels were high and the keep me on it for about half a year to a year after they had dropped to normal. I went for a bit without seeing a Dr regularly, he had taken a leave of absence for a year or so. I had an acute attack. After that went on the Allopurinol again. Was off it afterwards when I moved and changed Drs and had another acute attack. Since then other than a short period I have been continually on it. In part now because of my diabetes and some other medications I am taking it is wise to just stay on the Allopurinol.

deleted_user 02/07/2007

hi darrell, thanks for your post, i am a 50 yr old male and was just prescribed allopurinol but thought i read somewhere that i shouldnt take it while having a gout attack, i was thinking that i would take it only once in awhile, have you tried or have heard of uricinex ? ,i just finished a whole bottle with no results that i could see, my attack has gone on now for about 2 months.

DarrellWade 02/11/2007

I've never heard of uricinex. When they first put me on allopurinol I was having problems with uric acid crystals forming in my joints. The uric acid level in my blood was high.

The problem with allopurinol is that it can cause an increased amount of uric acid to be released for a time which I guess can complicate the treatment for an acute gout attack. (is that the right word? Acute?)

From what I gather you take allopurinol until your uric acid levels drop back down to normal and then for a period after that. Then they might take you off it and you might never have another occurrence of high uric acid levels and gout. But they should monitor the uric acid levels regularly and put you back on the alopurninol should the levels start to rise again.

For some people though they continue the alopurinol as a preventative measure. In my own case I take other medications for other problems that tend to increase the uric acid levels and often lead to incidents of gout. So I am on a preventative dosage of alopurinol all the time.

That pain from gout in my knee is so severe that my mind even forgets just how bad it was. I know that doesn't make a lot of sense. But that is how it is with intense pain I guess.

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