The flare-ups that go with the gout attacks with ferocity, not only that, it is also with ruthless speed. It comes when you least expect it –there are no warning signals at all. One time, you may feel well walking down the streets and chatting with your friends, but then your gout attacks, giving you a raging feeling of pain that you wish you never have. And when it finally sets in, it’ll only take minutes, and that’s it! The pain will become unbearable already.
With such haste, the medications that are said to be useful for gout must be fast acting too. Firstly, who do not want to relieve the lingering pain that gout gives, right? This is now where the so-called fast-acting medications come into action.
One of medicine of this classification is the Cataflam. The question here now is will it really live up to its own reputation as a fast-acting medicine, or not? How effective is Cataflam for gout? Let us know the answer, read on to this article!
Cataflam
Cataflam or what they also call, the diclofenac potassium is actually an NSAID or Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. Cataflam is used in treating pain, as well as inflammation brought by gout or some other conditions like ankylosing spondylitis or arthritis. Furthermore, it is available in various generic forms, so it can be easily obtained at your local drugstores.
Pharmacological speaking, Cataflam is an acetic acid NSAID that has antipyretic and analgesic properties. Aside from the aforementioned conditions, Cataflam may also be used in treating actinic keratosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ocular inflammation, dysmenorrhea, and other pains.
As what we’ve said earlier, Cataflam is a diclofenac. And like any other drugs in this class, it is not free of any side effects. That’s why it is contraindicated to those who are known to have hypersensitivity to diclofenac and products that contain diclofenac. The diclofenac must not also be given to those who have asthma, and urticarial. This is due to some cases of severe yet rarely fatal reactions of diclofenac to some patients.
How Effective is Cataflam for Gout?
Undeniably, Cataflam is very effective in giving relief to most types of pain, although that’s not consistent varying on the individual. In addition, there is also a fact that the base of it is potassium salt (this is not a surprise since it is called diclofenac potassium). This is what makes it very different from the other diclofenac brands.
In the actual fact, the major advantage of the potassium salt is that it is fast release, not like the sodium salt base, which is of delayed release. Moreover, Cataflam has lesser side effects on the stomach compared to the other Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. However, it is not so fast. Yet again, it is very worth mentioning that taking Cataflam in treating gout has its own downsides too.
Interactions of Cataflam
- Diuretics: diclofenac and other types of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs may prevent the activity of various diuretics. Simultaneous treatment with potassium-scuffling diuretics may get in association with the increase in the levels of serum potassium.
- Oral hypoglycemic: diclofenac doesn’t modify the metabolism of glucose in the normal subjects nor alters the effects of various oral hypoglycemic means. Even though the direct causal relationship of both hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic agents hasn’t been established, physicians must consider the likelihood that the diclofenac may change the response of a patient to insulin or in oral hypoglycemic agents.
- Lithium: diclofenac may decrease the lithium renal clearance and increase the levels of lithium Those patients who take lithium alongside diclofenac, they may develop lithium toxicity.
- Cyclosporine, Methotrexate, Digoxin: diclofenac, just like any other Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs may have an effect on the renal prostaglandins and may increase certain drugs’ toxicity levels. The ingestion of diclofenac may cause an increase of serum concentrations of methotrexate and digoxin. Not just that, it may also increase nephrotoxicity.
Drawbacks of Cataflam for Gout
The same as the other medications out there, the main drawback or advantage of the Cataflam is its own side effects. In fact, it is more appropriate to say that the negative effects of the drug are its main effect, and the positive ones are its side effects.
Disrupting the natural defense of the body is the main effect in the body of Cataflam, or diclofenac in general. The inflammation and the pain are both the defensive response of an individual to the uric acid crystal. This just means that when the mechanism will be disabled, the pain, as well as the inflammation will be disabled as well.
Moreover, diclofenac may disrupt the cyclooxygenase in the body. Thus making the inflammation and pain worse. This is actually a good thing in a sense that it may help in removing the pain and inflammation. however, to bring down the immune system just to relieve the pain and the inflammation is quite intolerable.