Medicine Information

At Last! Good News For Gout Sufferers!


Gout, an arthritis affliction with its roots in antiquity, has not always been easy to treat. The traditional medicines employed for gout have been non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), colchicines, probenicid (Benemid), and allopurinol (Zyloprim).

Unfortunately, while effective, these drugs have their drawbacks. NSAIDS cause gastrointestinal complications; colchicines has been linked to severe neurologic and gastrointestinal problems; probenecid cannot be used in patients who do not have normal kidney function; and allopurinol has been associated with severe side effects including liver, skin, and blood toxicity.

Interestingly, drugs you may take for other medical conditions may help you with gout. Losartan (Cozaar), a blood pressure medication, and fenofibrate (Tricor), a triglyceride-lowering drug, works as mild uricosuric drugs. This means these agents help the kidneys get rid of excess uric acid- the major ingredient in the crystals that cause gout pain.

By the same token that some medicines taken for different conditions may help gout, others may hurt it. For instance, certain diuretics may elevate blood uric acid. The same is true for low doses of aspirin.

A new medicine, febuxostat, has recently undergone clinical trials. This medication is being heralded because of its safety profile.

Obviously, all medicine decisions should be made in concert with your physician.

Dr. Wei (pronounced "way") is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com


MORE RESOURCES:

dBTechno

Initiative positions Wisconsin to become leader in personalized ...
University of Wisconsin-Madison University Communications, WI - 46 minutes ago
Wisconsin may soon become an international leader in personalized medicine, a simple concept that has the potential to revolutionize healthcare. ...
Four Wisconsin research institutions Collaborate On Genomics Project TopNews
Wisconsin Medical Research Triangle Unveiled By Gov. dBTechno
all 5 news articles


Market Wire (press release)

San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine ...
MarketWatch - Oct 11, 2008
World Day helps to raise awareness about the practice of palliative medicine, in an effort to bring effective medical practices that aid in preventing and ...
San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine ... International Business Times
all 13 news articles


Uplift Rx: Call Doc Woody
Globe and Mail, Canada - 1 hour ago
"People call me Woody," says the celebrated New York doctor of integrative medicine, who sits across from me, calm and ready to soothe. ...
Names in the news Baltimore Sun
Region cashes in on health education Toledo Blade
all 4 news articles


Police chief's death stuns Medicine Hat
Calgary Herald,  Canada - 8 hours ago
The death of Medicine Hat police Chief Gord Earl has left a void within the organization he served for more than 30 years. Earl died of an apparent heart ...
Medicine Hat Police Chief dies. Medicine Hat News
Medicine Hat police chief dies suddenly Calgary Herald
all 5 news articles


Protection Is the Best Medicine
Wheeling News Register, WV - 9 hours ago
And with a recent syphilis outbreak in Ohio County, health officials want people to know that prevention - as in protection - is the best medicine. ...


Boston Globe

Talking about death eases end of life for patients, loved ones
Boston Globe, United States - 7 hours ago
"I think the safety of free drug samples must be further examined," Dr. Sarah L. Cutrona, lead author and an internal medicine specialist at Cambridge ...
Metabolic syndrome raises colon cancer risk 75% Tehran Times
all 12 news articles


MedHeadlines

An industry takes its medicine
Baltimore Sun, United States - Oct 10, 2008
Just in time for cold and flu season, manufacturers of popular over-the-counter cold and cough medicines have said they will stop marketing their remedies ...
Leading Homeopathic Medicine Provider, Hyland's Inc., Offers ... MarketWatch
Editorial: FDA warns against giving over-the-counter cold medicine ... The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com
Health Matters: Cough Medicine and Your Child WCTV
Medical News Today (press release) - Newsinferno.com
all 391 news articles


Where does your candidate stand on medicine's issues?
American Medical News (subscription) - 12 hours ago
And they have worked with organized medicine to help ensure patient safety by appropriately limiting nonphysician scope of practice. At the federal level, ...
Stake your claim for accurate reimbursement American Medical News (subscription)
all 2 news articles


Natural Medicine: Balancing yin and yang to treat hot flashes
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 16 hours ago
According to Western medicine, hot flashes primarily are caused by hormonal changes, particularly a decrease in estrogen. The drop in estrogen tricks the ...


Smugglers of fake medicine target Thailand
Bangkok Post, Thailand - 18 hours ago
Dubbed the "fake medicine investigator", Mr Wutipong works for the Investigation and Suppression Bureau under the Customs Department. ...

Medicine - Google News

home | site map
© 2006