Kicking Gout in the Acid Podcast: The Severity of Gout and the Importance of Management

Kicking Gout in the Acid is a six-part podcast series with the goal of raising awareness of gout, its proper management and much more. In each episode, an expert from the Gout Education Society will join Dr. Larry Edwards in a conversation focusing on how to improve the quality of life for those suffering from disease and empower those who care for them.

A Guide to Navigating Gout Medications

Hello Gout Education,

The Gout Education Society is committed to raising awareness of gout—the most common form of inflammatory arthritis—and how to manage it for the long term. The Society offers a variety of free, unbiased resources at GoutEducation.org to help you learn more about gout and treatment options.

Gout is one of few chronic diseases that can be cured. Medications to treat the underlying cause of the disease and options to manage the pain associated with gout flares are common and well tolerated. However, it's normal to want to know more about how the disease is treated. This month, the Society will walk through some of the most common medications that one may encounter if they have gout.

Urate Lowering Therapies:

Reducing uric acid in the body is the most important step to managing gout. Urate lowering therapies (ULTs) are the treatments that help achieve this. There are two common forms of ULT that one may encounter:

• Allopurinol: The go-to option for lowering uric acid. A doctor will slowly increase a prescription of allopurinol until one's uric acid level reaches a target of 6.0 mg/dL or lower. Common side effects include: changes in taste, diarrhea, indigestion and stomach pain or cramps.
• Febuxostat: A good alternative for those who can't tolerate allopurinol. Minor side effects are: changes in appetite, constipation or diarrhea, nausea, hot flush to face or skin, stomach upset or pain.
• Probenecid: This medication increases the kidneys’ ability to remove uric acid from the body. It is not recommended if one has a history of kidney stones or renal impairment.
• Pegloticase: This medication is used to treat advanced gout or gout that hasn’t responded well to other therapies. Pegloticase works by breaking down already formed uric acid into a compound that is much easier for the body to eliminate. It is given as an intravenous infusion every two weeks and a complete course of therapy is usually six to 12 months.

Pain Management Options:

Flares can cause an immense amount of pain for those with gout, however, there are a few common options that can be used to mitigate this issue:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): Several are available in over-the-counter dosing. Your doctor may also give you a prescription dose. Those with kidney disease and GI ulcers need to exercise caution when taking NSAIDs.
• Glucocorticosteroids: Cortisone can be taken orally or injected, and quickly suppresses the inflammation of an acute gout flare. Those with diabetes may not be able to use this option.
• Colchicine – This is usually most effective when taken within the first 12 hours of an acute flare; however, other medications may still be needed for treating pain. A common dosing schedule is to take two, 1.2 mg tablets together at once, then a third tablet one hour later, followed by one tablet 2-3 times per day over the next week. Patients may have side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or diarrhea.

For a more extensive guide of advice about taking gout medications, visit the Gout Education Society website for resources like Gout Medications Do's and Don'ts for more insights on treatment strategies.

Have any questions? Email us: info@gouteducation.org.

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Find a fright-free treatment plan by working with your doctor to deliver individualized care and help keep the scares and flares away!

New Blog: Managing Gout in the Context of Managing Comorbidities

Gout is a complex condition that can significantly affect a person’s quality of life, especially when accompanied by other health issues, known as comorbidities. By taking a holistic approach to gout management and understanding the intricate connection that comorbidities such as heart conditions, renal disease, and diabetes have relative to gout, healthcare professionals can develop individualized treatment plans to improve overall patient health and wellbeing.

Clinical Trial Opportunity: Have Hyperuricemia?

LG Chem is looking for 350 participants across several different regions to try out Tigulixostat, a medication designed to stop the enzyme that metabolizes purines. Purines are the compounds that become uric acid. When built up over time, this can cause hyperuricemia, which is the root cause of gout.

Tigulixostat is classified as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, similar to allopurinol or febuxostat. The Phase 3 clinical trial intends to test the drug’s effectiveness for six months in people with hyperuricemia, versus those who are given a placebo.

Find out here if you are eligible to participate

Clinical Trial Seeks People with an Acute Gout Attack

Olatec Therapeutics is seeking participants for its Phase 2/3 clinical trial in patients with an acute gout flare. The objective of the clinical trial is to test an oral anti-inflammatory, called dapansutrile, which is an investigational drug not yet approved by FDA. The trial will assess the effectiveness of dapansutrile in treating inflammatory pain over 8 days in people with gout who are experiencing an acute gout attack versus those who are given a placebo. Rescue treatment is offered if pain remains intolerable while on study. 

The trial is seeking participants located throughout the United States and Europe. 

To find out if you're eligible please visit clinicaltrials.gov and/or contact gout@olatec.com

Clinical Trial Focuses on Comparing Two Treatment Methods

The TRUST trial is designed to compare two gout treatment strategies. The treat-to-target serum urate approach lowers blood uric acid levels with medications like allopurinol or febuxostat to reduce flare frequency. The treat-to-avoid approach focuses on managing flare symptoms using medications such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and colchcine. Participants are randomly assigned to one of these groups, with frequent in-person visits and biweekly check-ins throughout the study's 96-week duration. Trial participants will receive a stipend for each visit.

To find out if you're eligible please visit trust-gout.mgh.harvard.edu

Gout Research Study Seeks Participants

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston - Research is conducting a study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug combined with allopurinol for the potential treatment of gout. This study may be an option if you are 18-75 years old, have been diagnosed with gout, and have had at least two gout flares in the last 12 months. Participants must be willing to commit time for study visits at the practice's clinic in The Woodlands, Texas.

Participants can contact the research department at 936-681-4882 for more information. 

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