What is the recommended initial medication for an acute gout attack?

The recommended initial medication for an acute gout attack is colchicine. Colchicine is specifically used for treating acute inflammation in gout due to its mechanism of action, which helps to reduce the pain and swelling associated with gout attacks. It works by disrupting the inflammatory process that occurs during a gout flare, effectively alleviating symptoms.

While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can also be used to relieve pain in gout attacks, they are not as specifically targeted as colchicine. Similarly, glucocorticoids may be employed in cases where other treatments are contraindicated or not sufficiently effective, but they are typically not the first-line treatment for an acute episode. Allopurinol is used for long-term management of gout to lower uric acid levels but is not appropriate for treating an acute attack since it does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. Thus, for an acute gout attack, colchicine stands out as the initial medication of choice.