My doctor said that Niaspan may actually cause gout so I no longer take it. Yes I have gout and it is painful when it hits. I take medication now to decrease my uric, which causes gout, and it does help. I haven't had a bad attack in months. Cherries do acutally work as well. It is hard to get people to believe that about cherries but they do seem to work. The extract juice works as well. Indocin may also be prescribed by your doctor to relieve the symptons.