[steve86]

Probenecid is generally prescribed only when allopurinol can not be tolerated and a uricosuric drug is indicated (this would be bad for me as it would result in kidney stones). You don't ever want to change the uric acid level during an attack (up or down) as this will make the attack worse. You want to dissolve the crystals with colchicine or one of the other natural solutions that has a similar effect, but much weaker.

[Alex Kida]

Allopurinol is cheaper but according to my doctor more patients have problems with it than probenecid. Most likely it is a matter of preference or experience of your doctor. I did really well on probenecid and had no ill effects.

Most important is to get to the doctor ASAP. If you get a full gout attack it is amazingly painful. You can not describe how painful it is. It’s so bad that if you even look at it funny it almost hurts. I just got back from a 3.5 mile walk so I still exercise. I still haven’t had an attack in years. It hurts me to know how much it hurts you.