Gout Treatment
Skip to content
Gout treatment online
Chronic CareArthritisGout Treatment

Gout treatment available online today

In order to treat your gout, consult with one of our board-certified primary care doctors online today about possible joint pain. Get a new prescription to treat gout or refill an existing prescription today.*

PlushCare Content Team
Written by PlushCare Content Team
Stephen Vogel, MD
Medically reviewed by Stephen Vogel, MD
Book an appointment

*Prescriptions are provided at the doctor's discretion. Learn more about our controlled substances policy and how to save up to 80% with our prescription discount card. PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of gout, and not all cases of joint pain can safely be diagnosed over telehealth. At times, our primary care physicians can conduct an initia evaluation of your symptoms but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person testing and/or treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

circles-dark.18c7e306

Learn about gout

Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis. Naturally, everyone breaks down chemical compounds called purines (found in many food sources) into uric acid. When your kidneys can't excrete uric acid well enough through the urine, uric crystals can form in your joints, causing swelling, redness, and severe joint pain.

Gout symptoms can come and go, and ongoing pain can take a toll on your quality of life. Fortunately, treatment options can help you manage symptoms and prevent gout attacks.

Gout causes

Gout, the most common type of inflammatory arthritis, happens when people have high levels of uric acid. The human body naturally produces uric acid during the breakdown of natural chemicals found in many foods and liquids called purines. Uric acid flows through the kidneys and exits the body inurine.


When you have too much uric acid, either naturally or from a high-purine diet, it can form urate crystals that lodge in the joints, leading you to develop gout. Some risk factors that can increase your uric acid levels include:

Eating a diet rich in red meat, selfish, fruit juice, and alcoholic beverages

  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney Disease
  • Obesity
  • Chronic use of low-dose aspirin and some blood pressure medications
  • A family history of gout
  • Older age
  • Recent surgery or trauma

Gout symptoms

With acute gout, symptoms tend to come on quickly from the buildup of uric acid crystals. Gout attacks can be extremely painful and may happen overnight. During a gout attack, patients typically

experience:

  • Severe pain
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Tenderness, even to gentle touch
  • Warmth, or the feeling that the affected joint is "on fire"

In some cases, people have high uric acid levels in their blood but don't experience any symptoms. This is called asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

circles-dark.18c7e306

How to treat gout

Gout treatment will depend on the stage and severity of your condition. Your treatment plan may include:


  • Lifestyle changes: For many people, losing weight and eating a balanced diet can help prevent gout flare-ups. Eating a low-sodium Mediterranean or DASH diet, with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other unprocessed foods, can significantly reduce gout flare-ups. Avoiding foods that have high levels of purines, like red & organ meats, shellfish, soda & alcohol, can help reduce uric acid levels and reduce gout flares.
  • Prescription medications: If you experience frequent attacks, your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication or uric acid-lowering drugs to help you manage symptoms.
  • Gout surgery: In most cases, gout can be treated effectively without surgery. But after many years especially with untreated gout, hard deposits can build up on your joints, causing permanent damage. These are called tophi. Gout surgery removes these deposits to reduce pain.

Gout medications

Depending on your medical history, symptoms, and frequency of gout attacks, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat gout. Some drugs to help control symptoms include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex)

Colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare)

A prescription anti-inflammatory drug that can help relieve gout pain

Corticosteroids

Which can help reduce inflammation and relieve swelling in the inflamed joint

Uric acid-lowering drugs

Such as febuxostat (Uloric) and allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim), which help lower uric acid levels in the blood
circles-light

How to prevent gout

Healthy lifestyle choices can help lower your risk factors for gout. These choices include:


  • Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and boost kidney function.
  • Stay active to maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese increases uric acid levels in your body and creates added stress on your joints.
  • Limit how much alcohol and sweetened beverages (i.e., fruit juice) you drink.
  • Only eat purine-rich food, such as shellfish, beef, pork, and organ meat, in moderation.
  • Limit your purine intake by eating a low-fat, non-dairy diet rich in whole foods.
circles-dark.18c7e306

When to see a doctor for gout

If you experience sudden, severe pain in a joint, talk to your doctor. Without appropriate treatment, gout can lead to gouty arthritis (chronic gout), a more severe form of arthritis. This condition can leave affected joints permanently damaged and swollen.


Seek immediate medical attention if you have a fever and an inflamed joint. These may be signs of a serious infection, called a septic joint

Gout treatment FAQs

What are the symptoms of gout?

The most common symptom of gout is the sudden onset of intense pain in a single joint, usually in the big toe. During a gout attack, you may also experience:

  • Swelling, redness, and inflammation
  • Stiffness in the affected joint
  • Warmth, or feeling like your joint is "on fire"

How do you treat gout?

Treatment options for grout vary depending on the stage and severity of the condition. Many people can effectively manage symptoms with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.

If you're experiencing intense pain, redness, or inflammation in your joints, book an appointment with one of our board-certified doctors to get gout treatment online. Our board-certified doctors can prescribe prescription NSAIDs (e.g., celecoxib and meloxicam) to reduce inflammation and treat gout. Other prescriptions, including allopurinol, colchicine, and febuxostat, are also available to help lower the levels of uric acid in the blood.

What foods I should avoid for gout?

If you have gout, avoiding high-purine foods can help reduce the frequency of gout attacks and lower the uric acid level in your blood. Some foods to avoid include:

  • Alcohol, especially beer
  • High fructose corn syrup
  • Red meat, including pork, lamb, and beef
  • Oily fish, mussels, and scallops

Where can I get meloxicam for gout?

You can get meloxicam, a prescription-strength NSAID, by booking an appointment with an online doctor. At PlushCare, a board-certified primary care doctor may be able to prescribe meloxicam for gout after a video consultation.

After a quick video consult with an online doctor to diagnose gout, your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms to create a personalized treatment plan. If needed, your doctor can also write a prescription for meloxicam and send it to your local pharmacy.

What are the top prescription medications for gout?

The top prescription medications for gout include anti-inflammatory medications and uric acid-lowering drugs, which help manage symptoms and lower the frequency of attacks.


To get online gout treatment, book an appointment with one of our board-certified PlushCare doctors. Once your online doctor diagnoses your gout, they can prescribe medications to treat your symptoms,

such as:

  • Allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim)
  • Colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare)
  • Febuxostat (Uloric)
  • Indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex)

Related conditions to gout

Gouty arthritis (chronic gout)

3 simple steps to get treated for gout today

Gout treatment pricing details

To request gout treatment and get a new prescription or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits.

30 days of free membership

  • Same-day appointments 7 days a week
  • Unlimited messages with your Care Team
  • Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
  • Exclusive discounts on lab tests
  • Free memberships for your family
  • Cancel anytime

Paying with insurance

Membership

$19.99 /month

First month free

+

Visits

Copay

Visit price with insurance

Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!

We accept these insurance plans and many more:

 

humanaaetnacigna logo background

Paying without insurance

Membership

$19.99 /month

First month free

+

Visits

$129

Visit price without insurance

Initial visits are $129.
Book an appointment
*If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund. Please note that any medication or lab work costs are not included. Please refer to our refund policy for additional information.

Gout Resources

Sources:

PlushCare is dedicated to providing you with accurate and trustworthy health information.




PlushCare content is reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals. Learn more about our editorial standards and meet the medical team. The PlushCare site or any linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment.