Gout is a really painful, inflammatory joint disease related to having high uric acid levels. Allopurinol is a key medication used to treat gout.
Allopurinol works by lowering the level of uric acid in the blood. Once this level is low enough, the frequency and severity of attacks is reduced.
But, it's a tricky medication to use.
Many patients get started on it and then find that they actually get a more severe attack of gout. This video helps explains why we think this happens.