Readers who often pay attention to gout doctors (WeChat public number: tfyisheng) are already familiar with some commonly used gout treatment drugs, and probably know which kinds of drugs should be used to relieve pain and reduce uric acid in acute gout attacks. Then, there is another question that everyone is very concerned about: should these drugs be taken for life?
How long does it take to use drugs for acute attacks?
I believe everyone already knows that when acute gout attacks, you can choose symptomatic and analgesic drugs, such as colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoid, or sodium bicarbonate, which helps alkalize urine, etc.
Since it is used during the onset of acute gout, the time of medication should be determined according to the time of the onset of acute gout.
Gout patients may have the experience that after an acute gout attack, even if there is no treatment, the pain will be relieved in about 2 weeks, which is the [self-limiting] of an acute gout attack. However, as the frequency of attacks increases, the time required for self-relief may become longer and longer.
In the case of drug therapy, we hope to reduce the degree of pain and shorten the onset time.
Therefore, the general acute phase of medication in aAbout weeks. If the pain does not improve significantly after one week of application of the above drugs, the patients should see a doctor again.
When gout attacks, pain is unbearable, which seriously affects work and life. Patients often want to control symptoms quickly. Therefore, it is recommended that patients take drugs as soon as possible before gout attacks, when joints begin to appear untimely.
How long is the drug for reducing uric acid used?
At present, commonly used uric acid lowering drugs in clinical practice include benzbromarone, which promotes uric acid excretion, allopurinol and febustat, which inhibit uric acid production.
These drugs have been introduced in detail in previous articles.
Although the mechanisms of action are different, the ultimate goal of the three drugs is to reduce the blood uric acid of gout patients to reach the standard, namely 360 mol/L (without tophus) and 300 mol/L (with tophus).
- The guidelines do not specify a specific time
At present, the guidelines at home and abroad do not specify the specific use time of uric acid-lowering drugs, but like antihypertensive drugs and hypoglycemic drugs, the dosage and time of uric acid-lowering drugs should be adjusted according to the level of blood uric acid.
- Gradually reduce the amount according to the situation.
On the basis of improving lifestyle, doctors will generally advise patients to reduce the use of uric acid-lowering drugs after applying uric acid-lowering drugs and the blood uric acid reaches the standard for a period of time. At this time, special attention should be paid to the need to detect whether the blood uric acid level continues to reach the standard.
- The timing of drug withdrawal can be considered.
Our goal is to use the least amount of uric acid reducing drugs to keep the blood uric acid level up to standard.
If a small dose of uric acid-lowering drugs has been used, the blood uric acid can reach the standard, and metabolic indexes such as blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipid and body weight can be improved, so you can try to stop using uric acid-lowering drugs under the guidance of doctors.
How long does it take to prevent acute hair?
In the early stage of uric acid reduction therapy, great attention should be paid to the use of drugs to prevent acute attack of gout, including small doses of colchicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids.
For this kind of drugs, the gout diagnosis and treatment guidelines have clear instructions on the use time:
- The total duration of preventive medication shall not be less than 6 months; Patients without visible tophus: uric acid will continue to be used for 3 months after reaching the standard; Patients with visible tophus: Continue to use uric acid for 6 months after reaching the standard.
We recommend that seizure prevention drugs be used at the beginning of uric acid reduction therapy.
To sum up, the drug treatment for gout patients cannot be generalized. Drugs can neither stop eating nor stop eating, nor can they be taken for a long time without paying attention to monitoring the drug effect.
Each gout patient’s condition is different in severity. Some may be able to avoid gout attacks simply by diet control, while others need drugs to assist for a period of time, and some need long-term or even lifelong medication. The specific decision should be made by the clinician through comprehensive judgment.