I am in Alberta, Canada and also have the experience of a GP who wasreluctant to prescribe allopurinol for what I thought were very goodreasons. His reasoning is that unless you have attacks of gout morethan once a year for a two day period - my first three attacks were likethis - treating it with medication may be “overprescribing.” Instead,he suggested I treat my own body with more respect, by eating morehealthily, getting more exercise, and reducing business related stress.Now that it has clearly become chronic, probably due to my not followinghis previous advice very well, he is quite comfortable prescribingallopurinol, so that I can pursue the exercise I have recently beenavoiding due to pain/attacks.

This seems like very reasonable medical advice to me. I would alwayssuggest that you follow the advice of a doctor that you trust. If theybelieve that you should be on allopurinol and you trust their reasoning,go for it!