Probenecid is used in adults to prevent gout attacks or flares. It's used when allopurinol can't be taken or hasn’t worked well. Sometimes probenecid is used with allopurinol.
Probenecid isn't a treatment for a gout flare — it doesn't relieve short-term pain and swelling. If you get an attack and are already taking probenecid you must keep taking the probenecid (see special instructions below).
How does probenecid work?
- Probenecid helps your kidneys remove uric acid from your body. Uric acid is produced in your body when you digest and metabolise some types of food and drinks.
- Usually excess uric acid is passed out in urine, but when uric acid levels are too high, the extra uric acid can turn into crystals in your joints, causing pain and swelling. This is known as gout.
- With each new attack, the size and number of crystals grow and can sometimes be seen as lumps under the skin (tophi). Over time this can damage your joints, bones and kidneys.
To reduce gout attacks, it's important to keep your uric acid level below 0.36 mmol/L
- When your uric acid is below 0.36 mmol/L, no new crystals can form and crystals that are already in your joints can start to dissolve.
- The risk of gout attacks and joint damage is reduced.
- If you already have tophi, the goal is to get to a uric acid level below 0.3 mmol/L.
- Uric acid levels can be checked with a blood test, which can be done at a blood lab, at your doctors clinic or at some pharmacies.
Read more about gout.