Acute gout pain relief: what to take to ease pain within 24 hours, and 3 things never to use

Choosing the right drug in the first 12 hours decides whether a flare lasts 2 days or 10.

Three main options (one, per your doctor)

1. Colchicine – 1 mg then 0.5 mg an hour later.
2. NSAID – naproxen 500 mg twice daily, ibuprofen 400–800 mg three times, or celecoxib 200 mg twice. Not with kidney or serious heart disease.
3. Prednisolone 30–35 mg for 5 days when the others are unsuitable.

Never

• Aspirin – raises uric acid.
• Starting allopurinol mid-flare (keep taking it if already on it).
• Alcohol to "numb" it.

Home support

• Cold pack 15–20 min, repeat hourly
• Elevate the foot
• 500 ml water every 2 hours
• No socks or blankets on the joint