Show MEDICALLY Y SPEAKING 11 Ji tty Uy Dr Or David Evans Vernal Venial Family Fancily Health Center Gout I would like to know why my mother Is taking A friend tells me It is for gout She doesn't have gout J. J J P. P Vernal First you need to know more about gout and its causes There are arc two types of or gout primary and secondary Primary gout Is Isan Isan isan an in-born in metabolic disorder manifest by and recurrent attacks of gout means increased increased in in- creased levels of uric acid In the serum As the level of uric acid increases it tends lends to become insoluble and in the joints resulting in gout The term secondary gout simply means that uric acid levels are increased by some acquired disease such as cancer kidney disease high blood pressure starvation etc Gout is not a single disease but a syndrome condition caused by many biochemical abnormalities which lead to Many factors are at play in determining whether or not gout will occur such as diet alcohol drugs and genetic disposition GOUT USUALLY Y affects males much more often than females and involves the large joints for example knee ankle wrist toes and fingers however the eyes heart and other parts of the body can c'an can be attacked In a family with a blood relative who has gout about 25 percent of the relatives will have with no symptoms is used in the treatment of gout and selected inhibits the action of xanthine an enzyme which allows for the conversion of to xanthine which is further converted to uric acid Thus the drug results in decreased production of uric acid has no pain relieving properties anti- anti inflammatory properties nor does it cause Increased excretion ex of uric acid as do man many other drugs used to treat trea gout Usually when f Is administered to a patient their uric acid level decreases ti to maximum level attainable 01 on that particular dose within ten let days Remember haino has hai no pain relief properties am and will not help in an acute attack of or gout It is to be used t to prevent increased levels of or uric uri acid gouty arthritis may be improved by therapy however sometimes during the first six months ol or of therapy the number of acute attacks may increase Oftentimes Oftentimes Often times is used in ir combination with other agents treat gout since it decreases the production of uric acid and they increase excretion of uric acid The goal of therapy is to decrease uric acid levels and the incidence of acute attacks attacks at at- tacks as well as the severity is cleared from Crom the body very slowly consequently if your doctor decides to prescribe it you can take the drug once a day As with all drugs it does have some side effects The most common is isskin isskin isskin skin rashes which can come at any time even after taking the drug for several years Many times the drug can be stopped and started again at a t a lower dose without continued problems Other common problems are nausea and vomiting If you have liver or kidney problems you should be sure your doctor knows as he will have to keep a closer eye on you if you are taking The effect on unborn babies is unknown Thus during pregnancy it should only be betaken betaken betaken taken if the physician feels the risk justifies the benefits should not be administered administered administered ad ad- ministered to nursing mothers Dr Evans will answer questions of general interest through this column If you have any questions or comments comments comments com com- ments please send them to the Vernal Express |