What Are the Treatments for Excess Uric Acid?
Uric acid is a chemical created naturally by the body. Certain foods, including alcohol, dried beans, mackerel, liver and anchovies, contain purines. Purines need to be broken down by the body, and as these purines are broken down, uric acid is created. Uric acid moves through the blood stream to the kidneys where it is naturally excreted as a waste. Excess uric acid occurs when too many purines are consumed in either food or medication, or if an underlying illness makes the body less able to excrete uric acid.
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Normal Levels of Uric Acid
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Normal levels of uric acid are between 3.0 and 7.0 mg/DL. Levels that exceed these numbers are considered to be elevated or high. This excess of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia. Treatment for hyperuricemia depends on the underlying cause and the reason for the excess of uric acid in the blood.
Easily Treatable Causes of Excess Uric Acid
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Consuming certain foods is one cause of excess uric acid. If uric acid levels are high as a result of diet, this excess can be avoided by avoiding foods high in purines or medications that are high in purines. Foods and medications high in purines include coffee, alcohol, aspirin, absorbic acid,ephinephrine, phenothiazine, and some chemotherapy drugs. When possible, these substances should be avoided. However, if drug therapy is needed in the treatment of another illness and is causing excess uric acid, other treatment methods may be required to deal with the elevated uric acid levels.
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Diseases That Cause Excess Uric Acid
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Certain diseases or illnesses can cause excess uric acid. For example, gout, alcoholism, diabetes, acidosis, leukemia, lead poisoning, kidney failure, hypoparathryoidism and toxic pregnancy can all cause excess uric acid in the body. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the underlying condition may be the best treatment for excess uric acid in these circumstances, provided the condition is treatable. For example, a drug called colchine is used in the treatment of gout, and has been successful at reducing uric acid levels caused by gout.
Treating Uric Acid Levels
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If the underlying condition can't be treated, it may be best to treat the excess uric acid levels with a medicine designed to treat hyperuricema. These medications serve a number of different functions--some inhibit the bodies absorption of urate or uric acid, and others increase the body's ability to excrete uric acid, and others block the body from producing uric acid. These therapies may be prescribed as a maintenance therapy which the patient will stay on for years, or as a short-term therapy.
Drugs Used to Treat Excess Uric Acid
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Probenecid is one of the most common drugs used to treat excess uric acid. It helps to rid the body of excess uric acid salts, and reduces the rate at which the body absorbs urates. Allupurinol and Febuxostate are used to hinder or lower the body's production of uric acid. Sulfinpyrazone also lowers uric acid level in the blood. Although these treat the hyperuricemia, they do not cure the underlying cause of the condition and the excess uric acid levels will continue to occur if the patient ceases use of these drugs, unless the underlying condition causing the excess uric acid is cured.
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