Gout
Gout is inflammatory arthritis caused by monosodium urate crystals in a joint. A flare usually brings rapid-onset pain, redness, warmth and swelling, often in the big toe, ankle or knee.
Colchicum Autumnale
0.5mg
Colchicine 0.5mg tablets, used for gout. It blocks tubulin polymerisation, so neutrophils do not migrate into the inflamed joint.
Key points
- A hot swollen joint is not automatically gout; joint infection must be considered, especially with fever or marked illness.
- Flare treatment reduces inflammation, while long-term urate-lowering treatment prevents crystal formation and future damage.
- Kidney function, heart disease, current medicines and attack history affect which options are safe.
Listings cannot confirm gout or select treatment from a uric-acid result alone; diagnosis and the aim of treatment must be clear first.
How is gout assessed?
The pattern and history help, but crystal identification from joint fluid is the most direct confirmation and can also test for infection. A urate level may fall during a flare, so a normal result at that moment does not exclude gout.
How do short- and long-term treatments differ?
Colchicine and other anti-inflammatory options can treat a flare but do not lower the body’s urate burden. Allopurinol or febuxostat may be used for prevention when indicated. Starting, stopping or changing urate-lowering treatment during illness requires clinical advice. See pain management for related classes.
When to seek urgent care
Seek same-day care for a first hot swollen joint, fever or chills, rapidly spreading redness, inability to bear weight, recent joint surgery or injection, or severe illness. These features may indicate septic arthritis.
Further reading
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