Various Over the Counter Gout Medication

Gout is one of the most severe types of arthritis among almost 100 types of arthritis. It is known as the metabolic arthritis and it is caused by the disturbed uric acid metabolism in the body. When too much uric acid builds up in the body, the formation of the tiny uric acid crystals begins to take place around the tendons and the tissues surrounding the joints. Gout is a serious concern for a large number of people these days. As a fact, most men after their 50 and most women after their menopause are the potential victims of the gout problems.

The most common and traditional symptoms of the gout are the acute pain in the joint areas, the intense swelling and the feeling of discomfort in the big toes. The big toes are the areas where the symptoms of the gout attack are first manifested in almost 75 per cent cases of the gout. So, any discomfort in the areas can be alarming. The redness, the tenderness of the skin and the heat felt on the gout affected areas are some of the common symptoms of gout. Sometimes, the growth of the uric acid crystals progresses to the point that it bursts through the skin to cause the discharge of a white chalk-like material. This is yet another gout symptom. The affected areas can be sensitive to a point where slight touch can affect the areas and an acute pain can be felt. Some patients of gout can have low degree fevers with nausea and vomiting. But these symptoms might not prevail in all gout patients. For some patients, the attack of gout can last for few hours and for some others the attack can last for even a few days.

There are various types of medications available for the gout patients. There are a number of over-the-counter medicines available to which the patients can have access to. Many medications are administered by the physicians according to the disease stage and an individual's response to disease. Most of the over-the-counter medicines are anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. These are not recommended for the long-term use and they can only reduce the pain and inflammation for a short while. Indomethacin, the NSAID or the Intra-Articular Glucocorticoids are used as the over the counter medicines when they are administered through the joint injection.

Among the over-the-counter medicines available for the disease, Colchicine is most widely used. This is basically used for the weakening of the motility of granulocytes. The over the counter medications for the gout can also alleviate the pain and the inflammation. But one should be aware of the fact that these over the counter medicines for the gout can cause some side effects like diarrhea and nausea. So, if wish to discover the best over the counter medicine for the disease, it is better to consult your health professional to seek the expert advise.