Gout is a type of arthritis associated with an overload of uric acid in the bloodstream, or hyperuricemia. You can have gout but show no signs, called asymptomatic gout, while the experience commonly described as having a "gout attack" is really just symptomatic gout. Certain drugs and herbs are risk factors for gout, meaning that they can contribute to this buildup of excess uric acid. Other drugs and herbs have been found to cause gout attacks in individuals already diagnosed with or predisposed to gout.
Gout
Gout is caused by the body producing more uric acid that it excretes. That uric acid overload causes small crystals called urate to form and deposit into the body's tissues, particularly around the joints. This can cause recurring attacks of stiffness, pain and swelling. In extreme cases, the uric acid itself deposits into the tissues and joints in solid lumps, potentially leading to the destruction of the affected joints, as well as kidney stones or kidney impairment.
Diuretics
While the purpose of a diuretic medication or herb is to help the body eliminate liquid waste, such as in cases of congestive heart failure or high blood pressure, diuretics do not help to increase the uric acid content of the urine excreted, and in fact may actually reduce the quantity of uric acid secreted into the urine. As such, diuretic herbs and medicines can promote a buildup of excess uric acid in the system. Diuretic medications considered risk factors for gout include thiazide diuretics like Dyazide, or hydrochlorothiazide, a common hypertension medication. Common diuretic herbs include borage, burdock, cleavers, dandelion, juniper, parsley, saw palmetto and yarrow.
Salicylates
According to Dr. Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D., salicylates, or anti-inflammatory medications containing the active ingredient salicylic acid, are risk factors for gout. Aspirin is one such salicylate drug. Herbal salicylates include meadowsweet, wintergreen, cramp bark and willow.
Niacin
Dr. Schoenstadt also names niacin as a potential cause of gout attacks. While niacin, or nicotinic acid, is actually a vitamin, B-3, it is commonly distributed in the form of a nutritional supplement or prescription drug. Common niacin- or nicotinic acid-based drugs include the cholesterol-lowering medications Niaspan, Niacor and Nicolar. Herbs high in niacin include alfalfa, catnip, cayenne, chamomile, fennel, licorice, mullein, nettle, oat straw, peppermint, red clover and slippery elm.
Anti-rejection Drugs
When people undergo an organ transplant, the surgeon will generally prescribe anti-rejection drugs like Cyclosporine during recovery to help prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted organ. According to the MayoClinic, these drugs are among the known risk factors for gout.
Other Drugs
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the Parkinson's Disease drug Levodopa and the tuberculosis drug Pyrazinamide increase risk of gout.
