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Gouty Arthritis

Gouty arthritis occurs when monosodium urate crystals trigger inflammation inside a joint. Flares can become intensely painful within hours, with redness, heat and swelling.

Arcoxia

Etoricoxib

60 · 90 · 120mg

Etoricoxib 60mg, 90mg and 120mg film-coated tablets, used for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis. A selective COX-2 inhibitor.

From$0.67/ tabletView

Indocin

Indometacin

25 · 50 · 75mg

Indometacin 25mg, 50mg and 75mg capsules and suppositories, used for rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and acute gout.

From$0.32/ tabletView

Key points

  • Big-toe involvement is typical, but gout can affect ankles, knees, wrists and other joints.
  • Anti-inflammatory treatment calms a flare; it does not remove the urate crystals that drive recurrence.
  • Fever or severe illness with a swollen joint needs urgent assessment for infection rather than presumed gout treatment.

A pain-medicine listing cannot distinguish gout from septic arthritis or injury; the diagnosis, kidney function and other medicines determine safe options.

What can trigger a flare?

Persistently raised urate allows crystals to accumulate. Dehydration, alcohol, illness and sudden changes in urate can precipitate inflammation, but a single meal is rarely the whole explanation. Kidney disease and some diuretics can raise risk.

How is a flare managed?

Etoricoxib is one anti-inflammatory option, but stomach, kidney, heart and blood-pressure risks matter. Colchicine or a corticosteroid may be considered in other situations. Recurrent flares call for review of long-term urate lowering, not repeated reliance on acute medicines. See pain management for class context.

When to seek urgent care

Seek same-day assessment for fever, chills, a first hot swollen joint, rapidly spreading redness, severe illness, recent joint surgery or injection, or inability to bear weight. A joint infection can resemble gout and can damage the joint quickly.

Further reading

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