Can patients with gout drink alcohol?
Generally, patients with gout should not drink alcohol. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. The detailed explanation is as follows:
During metabolism, alcohol promotes the breakdown of purines, which may lead to increased uric acid production and worsen gout symptoms. Alcohol can also exacerbate joint inflammation, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and soreness, thus hindering recovery. Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption may cause dehydration, impairing the kidneys' ability to excrete uric acid and increasing the risk of gout attacks. Therefore, alcohol intake is not recommended for gout patients, who should follow medical advice and take medications such as benzbromarone tablets, etoricoxib tablets, or febuxostat tablets as prescribed.
During treatment and recovery, patients are advised to adjust their diet appropriately by avoiding high-purine foods such as animal offal, seafood, and legumes, and to increase fluid intake to promote uric acid excretion.