I have gout and will vouch for the epic experience that is /sarc.
If you have untreated gout, colchicine should stop an attack and allopurinol and a few others will prevent it (a few cases are refractory).
I'm familiar with both of those drugs. Fortunately, I haven't had a flare since starting allopurinol. Gout is a great motivator - I made a lot of positive lifestyle changes because after my last flare I swore that I'd do anything I could to avoid another flare. I now know that some medical conditions are just as bad as the medical community says so I'm going to check out this shingles vaccine.