DEAR Dr. Fritz,
Good day. My doctor told me that I have gout. He prescribed me certain medicines. But, can I just try a natural and a healthy diet that will help me control uric. I want to take as few medications as possible. I am concerned that these drugs for gout are marketed by companies over natural treatment to make profits. What do you say?
Thanks for your advice.
Torks Men
***
Dear Torks Men,
Hands down, a healthy diet and lifestyle is good for you but gout patients like yourself are more prone to blood pressure and heart problems. Moreover, we don’t have good evidence that natural foods and a healthy diet can lower uric acid and control gout. Gout is caused partially by genes. Now, if you want fewer medicines, you have to start taking these medicines early, not giving natural things a head start.
These drugs for gout are not marketed by companies over profit as they are one of the cheapest in the market. These supplements for gout are more expensive compared to uric-acid lowering drugs that are proven to be mostly safe, cheap, and effective. Please don’t waste money on things which are only based on testimonials.
Please start taking the gout medicines prescribed to you ASAP. Usually, gout medicines are recommended to be started after the second gout attack especially if there are no other major contributory factors which can be modified, like blood pressure drugs -- chlorthalidone, metolazone, and hydrochlorothiazide.
If you are taking azathioprine, benazepril, captopril, didanosine, dyphylline, enalapril, perindopril, or protamine, then, they should be revised before allopurinol can be started. And if it’s colchicine and you are taking erythromycin and clarithromycin, they should be changed. And should febuxostat be in the order, drug interactions with azathioprine, mercaptopurine and theophylline should be considered.
Good luck!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She is the co-host of digital page of Superbalita. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” For your questions, you may e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)