Conditions and symptoms
What Is a Gout Flare? Gout Attacks
Gout Flare · say it: gowt flairAlso written: gout attack, acute gout, gouty flare
Short answer
A gout flare is a sudden attack of intense pain, swelling, warmth and redness in a joint, caused by uric acid crystals.
What it means
A gout flare is a sudden attack of gout. Uric acid crystals in a joint trigger strong inflammation, causing severe pain, swelling, warmth and redness, often coming on over hours, frequently at night. The big toe is a common site, but ankles, knees, wrists and fingers can be affected. Flares usually settle over days to a couple of weeks.
Gout flares appear on labels in a few ways. Medicines such as colchicine and some anti-inflammatories are approved to treat flares. Urate-lowering medicines warn that flares can increase when you first start them, so a flare-preventing medicine is often given at the same time. Some other medicines, such as certain diuretics, list gout flares as a possible effect.
A gout flare is a short-term attack; gout is the long-term condition. A hot, swollen joint with fever can also be an infection, which needs urgent checking.
Where you may see it
- Colchicine and anti-inflammatory labels under 'Indications'
- Urate-lowering medicine labels under 'Gout flares'
- Rheumatology clinic letters
📄 How it looks on a report
An increase in gout flares is frequently observed during initiation of urate-lowering therapy.
🙅 What it does not mean
- A flare after starting urate-lowering medicine does not mean you should stop it; ask your doctor.
- A flare is not caused only by what you ate; many factors play a part.
- A hot, swollen joint is not always gout; infection must sometimes be ruled out.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Gout Flare”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Allopurinol
a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, a prescription medicine that acts on uric acid
- Colchicine
an alkaloid medicine, a compound obtained from the autumn crocus plant (colchicum autumnale)
- Naproxen
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is a medicine that reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Gout Flare” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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