Uloric Questions

[jnfish]

Has anyone been on Uloric (new drug released recently)? I need to know if I should start on Uloric or Allopurinal. I have had around 30 attacks of gout in the past 10 years. I am 45 and weigh around 220. I know I have to loose weight slowly and get to my doctor to get a UA reading. I am worried that my gout will get worse if I do not start a maintenance med soon. I have been getting more attacks over the past two years (around 3 or 4 a year, and am not currently on any meds at all for gout). I have an attack  in my knee currently. I hit the indo and it is helping slowly, I have been taking around 50 mg every 6 hours or so during this  attack and it is helping the pain and swelling. I have been drinking tons of water and green tea and will call my doc tomorrow for a uric acid test. Bottom line question is should I ask doc about uloric or allopurinal? Which drug should I try first? Which one has the least side effects? How about price? Is one more expensive than the other? I have been going on just toughing out the attacks and going back to my old habits when they subside thinking I am invinceable to the gout devil…..but I know I will have to pay the piper eventually…..Thank you all for your help and advice…you are the only group that understands the pain! Thanks again in advance,

John

[Keith Taylor (GoutPal Admin)]

Welcome John,

Allopurinol is much cheaper than Uloric (febuxostat), and has been around long enough to prove it's safety, so it makes sense to try that first.

Side effects are minimal, but a possibility. They vary from person to person, but chances are you will be fine with it.

Main reason why allopurinol fails is that people forget to take it daily, or the doctor dose not prescribe the correct dose. Be sure, whichever drug you choose, that you get tested regularly for uric acid, and that your levels are low enough to clear existing crystals.

[zip2play]

I agree completely.

If you have any problems with side effects or lack of efficacy with allopurinol, not likely,  you can always switch to the new and much more expensive Uloric.

Yes, it is long past time that you should be medicating your gout. Thirty  attacks is at least 20 too many because each one does lasting and cumulative damage.

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