Popular Medications That Increase Your Risk Of Gout

According to the Mayo Clinic, gout is a type of arthritis. People with gout can experience sudden attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints. Most often, gout attacks occur in the big toe. Gout occurs when your body is not able to excrete enough uric acid. When there is too much of this compound in your body, urate crystals can form in your joints leading to the symptoms that we know as gout.

Uric acid is normally produced in our body from compounds known as purines which are found in large quantities in seafood, red meat, and organ meats. Alcoholic beverages and foods high in fructose can also promote the production of uric acid. Treatment for gout may include reducing your consumption of these offending foods.

While it might be surprising to you, certain common medications can also increase uric acid and trigger gout symptoms. You may even be using these medications.

According to a 2016 study published in the journal Rheumatology, anti-tubercular drugs, low-dose aspirin, cytotoxic chemotherapy, diuretics, immunosuppressant agents, fructose, lactate infusion, nicotinic acid, testosterone, and xylitol are all types of drugs that have been implicated in raising uric acid levels. Additionally, the authors state that drug-induced gout is becoming increasingly common, and, out of all the drugs studied, diuretics are the most important cause. The study authors also note several miscellaneous drugs that have been associated with causing elevated uric and gout, including but not limited to popular drugs like the erectile dysfunction medication sildenafil and the heartburn drug omeprazole.

The authors state that these drugs cause high uric acid through a few different mechanisms. In general, however, they affect uric acid reabsorption and/or decrease uric acid secretion. Some might also increase uric acid production.

The authors of the 2016 study explain that there aren't any established guidelines for preventing or managing medication-related gout. Staying well-hydrated, doing regular testing, and watching for any developing gout symptoms may be enough. About 2 out of every 3 people with elevated uric acid will go on to develop gout symptoms. If you do develop gout, management might include remaining on the drug while taking a gout medication to bring your high uric acid down. Your doctor might also consider alternative therapies for your condition.

If you suspect that your medication is the cause of your gout, don't discontinue the drug without first getting your doctor's go-ahead. As Harvard Health explains, it can be risky to stop certain medications abruptly. For example, when you stop certain blood pressure medications, you can experience a rebound effect causing your blood pressure to rise dangerously high. Or you might experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. You might also experience a return of the condition being treated by your medication. Your doctor can advise you about what your best options are depending on your condition and what medication you are taking.