Gout medication may help reduce the pain that you are feeling, but it is important that you understand gout medicine before you start popping the pills. This article is going to focus on the three main reasons gout medications are used.

The first reason that gout medication is used is to relieve the pain that comes from the inflamed joint. Doctors usually suggest that a person take over the counter medications such as Tylenol. The only type of pain relief medication you should avoid is aspirin.

The second reason doctors suggest using medication for gout is to reduce joint inflammation. The joints that are affected by the uric acid crystals become very inflamed and swollen. Usually a patient will start by taking an over the counter pill with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as Advil and ibueprofen. If the other the counter medication is not enough, a doctor may instead prescribe a stronger medication.

The third reason a person may begin taking medication for gout, is to reduce the levels of uric acid in the body. These medications are prescription only, and they may not be the right choice for everyone.

There are a few prescription medications that work in other ways to lower the uric acid levels in the body, or other processes to help relieve gout symptoms. Some of these medications include: Allopurinol, Sulfinpyrazone, Febuxostat, and Probenecid. If you are considering using gout medication to treat you symptoms, you should always talk to your doctor first to see what is right for your individual situation.