Rheumatoid arthritis and gout both classify as forms of joint inflammation categorized under the umbrella disease arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs most often in the smaller joints, such as those in the feet and hands, because the disease causes the person’s immune system to attack the joint linings. Gout occurs when the body does not rid itself sufficiently of uric acid, a waste product from eating foods high in purine content. The uric acid crystallizes in the joints, usually in the feet. Both these diseases can cause intense pain.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, can help ease the pain of both gout and rheumatoid arthritis. They do this by reducing inflammation that causes pain. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen, although doctors do not typically advise aspirin for gout. Prescription-level NSAIDs that can help with both rheumatoid arthritis and gout include celecoxib, indomethacin, etodolac, ketoprofen and meloxicam among others. The most common NSAID for gout, however, is indomethacin.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids or steroids can help treat both gout and rheumatoid arthritis. They work by decreasing the inflammation causing the pain associated with the diseases. These medications typically come in stronger doses than NSAIDs, and potentially can cause more side effects and long-term problems. Corticosteroids, MayoClinic.com reports, tend to decrease the effectiveness of the body’s immune system, which can lead to infections. They also can reduce bone mass, and they can cause diabetes and cataracts. The corticosteroid, prednisone may help both gout and rheumatoid arthritis, while methylprednisone may help the latter.
DMARDs and Immunosuppressants
Because rheumatoid arthritis occurs through an attack by the immune system, some drugs can help decrease this attack. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, can help reduce the rheumatoid arthritis progression, so permanent damage does not occur to tissues and joints. DMARDs include minocycline, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine. Immunisuppressants such as cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine and azathioprine work to bring the immune system under control to weaken its attack upon the joints. Because these drugs work to lower the autoimmune system, they can leave the person vulnerable to infections, MayoClinic.com warns.
Colchicine and Uric Acid Drugs
Gout generally can come under control with the daily use of some drugs of different types. For example, colchicine can help decrease the pain of a gout attack in high doses, but in low doses taken each day can help prevent the attacks. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors such as febuxostat and allopurinol, taken daily, can effectively block the production of uric acid to limit or eliminate gout attacks. Probenecid, another kind of medicine, works to help the kidneys expel the excess uric acid from the body.
