18th January 2005
Last chance is to use a uricosuric which increases the uric acid output from the kidneys. They include sulfinpyrazone and probenecid.
It's a shame that he cannot take allopurinol. I and almost everyone I've ever spoken to with gout use it without any problem day after day, year after year. It's been 6 years since my last attack.
Failing the two drugs I mentioned, both of which can be difficult to take, the only alternative left is HIGH DOSE aspirin...talking 5 grams a day...EVERY DAY! THAT is not easy. Low dose aspirin only makes the problem worse. I hope he can tolerate one of the uricosurics. They also are taken daily to prevent acute attacks.
It is FAR better to lower the uric acid than to allow it to run rampant and treat symptoms during acute attacks. With that kind of treatment it's only a matter of time til the high uric acid destroys the kidneys and leads to death. That's the kind of treatment Henry VIII got.
An aside,
Probenecid is no good for anyone with an allergy to penicillen (I BELIEVE I remember that correctly.)
It's a shame that he cannot take allopurinol. I and almost everyone I've ever spoken to with gout use it without any problem day after day, year after year. It's been 6 years since my last attack.
Failing the two drugs I mentioned, both of which can be difficult to take, the only alternative left is HIGH DOSE aspirin...talking 5 grams a day...EVERY DAY! THAT is not easy. Low dose aspirin only makes the problem worse. I hope he can tolerate one of the uricosurics. They also are taken daily to prevent acute attacks.
It is FAR better to lower the uric acid than to allow it to run rampant and treat symptoms during acute attacks. With that kind of treatment it's only a matter of time til the high uric acid destroys the kidneys and leads to death. That's the kind of treatment Henry VIII got.
An aside,
Probenecid is no good for anyone with an allergy to penicillen (I BELIEVE I remember that correctly.)