Allopurinol precipitating attacks
Just wondering if anyone has any ideas re: why allopurinol (with initial use)canprecipitate attacks. I’ve searched and found lots of sources that sayallopurinol maycause attacks at first, but nothing explains why this may be the case.
Terrance Molock on September 8th, 2007
Allopurinol affects the blood uric acid level.ANYTHING that doesthis can trigger attacks.Allopurinol can and does continue to triggerattacks(as deposits leave/get disturbed)..although they decreaseDRASTICALLY! in intensity,duration..AS LONG as deposits remain.Somecan not be removed.Some take up to 10 years.MOST leave in 1-3 yearsof allopurinol treatment.
Bernie Vanwhy on September 10th, 2007
Thanks for the info. I am a new convert to the gospel of Allopurinol. I’vetaken itbefore (diagnosed with gout at 21) but strayed from the path (now 32). But nowIbelieve, I believe.
Besides the pain of an attack the other pernicious aspect of Gout, which is lesstalkedabout, is the psychological one of “out of sight out of mind.” It’s easy toremember totake a pill when your Achilles tendon feels like a never ending drill bit isslowly bitinginto your ankle, but not quite as prominent in the mind when you’re foot looseandfancy free. My problem was that I’d take my pills for a few months, go on thewagon,and feel fine. And then my allo would gather dust in the cupboards.
Terrance Molock on September 11th, 2007
LOL..WELL..you CERTAINLLY! have the vernacular correct..a lareligion:Convert,gospel,straying from the path,believing,IBelieve,..AS IT applies to gout!AND you have put a lot of our ownfeelings to word,paper.GOOD on ya..here’s a few beer and a steak! Yours,ours is a WELl worn path! I did read a few years ago that byfar the greatest emergency room visits for gout were do to:?? You got it..fallen off the allopurinol wagon/help me.
The rheumatologist that I see says that the sheer sufferringdetermines patient medication compliance.I/E..he sees the greatestsufferrers as those who NEVER SIR miss a day..and those that have notbeen torturred as bad the most likely to stray.He says this can varya bit in that there are those who have sufferred a bit..and say NO toany more and those that have actually sufferred a bit more andstray..BUT after straying a few times…thinking they know chronicgout attacks..pain..and it can’t get worse..are..BENT by the depth ofthe pain that increases exponentially.These types are pretty ferventwith the allo.ESPECIALLY those that have gone on and off and NOW seetheir favourite weapons..drugs..i/e colchicine etc.,that have ALWAYSbailed them out before losing their ability to deal with thepain..especially as it increases.Better to avoid the attack when yourold friends..drugs.. have left you.Gout can be mean andvicious.Especially when an attack when not on allo brings permamentjoint damage suddennly to the table.Kind of a “here have this” fromMr.Gout..suddennlly as a surprise that ain’t ever goin’ away.
The DAILY drudgery of drugs,medication,loss of independance(todrugs EVERY day for life)affects all of us I think a bitdifferentlly.I think it is much harder for someone who goes on allo..and “Bye bye gout” soon for good.to continue doing the dope withoutactually being able to “see/feel” the good of it…THAN it is forsomeone who has been on allo for a long time and seems to be dealingwith it..i/e attacks,problems,ongoing lengthy stuff.ESpecially whenthat person has been really broken by gout.They KNOW where they havebeen..and sure..have had problems..BUT they haven’t ended up that badagain.So they can actually “see/feel” the good of the allo.
I really can’t relate to the “straying” off the allo as I took adifferent approach(s)..that I THOUGHT worked/was working.EVEN when Iwas told,WARNED! by everyone that I saw in the medical profession togo on allo for life.I didn’t.Wasn’t until the next attack..years andyears later that basically crippled me..leaving me with an attackthat could not be shaken..and pretty much unable to walk that I hadhad no choice left.The Dr.s I saw/see didn’t see it thatway.Don’t.They aggressively say I STILL have a choice(s)
Take allo and hopefully you will recover..and walk. Don’t take allo.. and good luck in avoiding agony,and being ableto walk.
I have been on allo for 5 years..my blood uric acid level hasalways been..stayed below normal..pretty healthy,fit,ski at a highlevel.I haven’t missed a day of allo.Haven’t had any doubts.Keeps meon the allo.. when I remember where I ended up and the choices I wasleft with.I still have gout problems..old deposits..on and off drugs.
So LOL..it is NOT hard for me to keep on taking the allo.I get apile of blood tests every few months..have for 5 years.They are allpretty much perfect! So I guess the allo ain’t hurting me.