How to Dissolve Uric Acid Crystals

Co-authored by Scott Tobis, MD and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: December 18, 2023 Fact Checked

If you've been experiencing sudden intense joint pain and lingering discomfort, you may be suffering from a type of arthritis called gout. Gout can be caused by high uric acid levels. Uric acid, a compound crystal, is usually filtered out by your kidneys and removed from your body through your urine. But, if you have high levels of uric acid, crystals can form causing conditions like gout. This is why lowering your levels of uric acid and dissolving these crystals is important. You can do this by taking medications, changing your diet, and exercising. Always talk with your doctor before modifying your diet or starting medications.

Part 1

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Taking Medications

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1
Learn the risk factors for gout. If you have gout, a type of arthritis from high uric acid levels, crystals can form in the fluid around your joints. Although older men are more likely to get it, it can affect anyone. Certain risk factors include a diet high in meat and seafood, obesity, chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of gout or if you are on certain medications.^{[1]
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- Gout causes inflammation and attacks of joint pain (usually at night and experienced in your big or great toe), along with redness, swelling, warmth, and tenderness of the joint. The discomfort lingers for days to weeks after the attack ends and could actually develop into chronic gout, leading to impaired mobility.
2
Go to your doctor for an exam. If you have chronic gout, or frequent or painful gout attacks, talk to your doctor about starting a prescription medication. Your doctor may do different tests to diagnose gout, including a blood test to measure your uric acid levels, a synovial fluid test (where a needle draws fluid from your joint), or an ultrasound or DECT scan to detect urate crystals. With the results of the tests, your doctor will be able to decide if and which medication you should start.^{[2]
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- Your doctor may prescribe medications like allopurinol, febuxostat, or probenecid.
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3
Take medication. Your doctor will most likely prescribe specific medications as a first form of treatment for chronic gout, like allopurinol (Aloprim, Zyloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric). While these medications can cause an initial increase in gout attacks, they'll eventually prevent them.^{[3]
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- Side effects of allopurinol include diarrhea, drowsiness, rash, and blood in your urine. Make sure to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day when taking allopurinol.^{[4]
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- Side effects of febuxostat include rash, nausea, joint pain, and irregular heartbeat.^{[5]
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4
Try taking uricosuric drugs. These types of medications help your body to excrete more uric acid through your urine. Uricosuric drugs boost your body’s ability to get rid of uric acid. You'll probably be prescribed probenecid, but it's not recommended if you have kidney issues. Start by taking 250mg every 12 hours for the first week. Your doctor may increase the prescription over time.^{[6]
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- Side effects of probenecid include rash, joint pain, nausea, dizziness, and headache.
5
Avoid certain medications. Some medications, including diuretics, make you need to urinate more. This lowers the remaining amount of fluid in your body, but also increases the concentration of said fluid, which can contribute to gout. You should also avoid low doses of aspirin and niacin because they can also increase your uric acid levels.^{[7]
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- Don't stop taking medications without talking to your doctor. In many cases, there are alternatives available.

Part 2

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Making Diet Modifications

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Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Try to eat healthy, fiber-rich foods and lean proteins. You should also avoid saturated fats, like cheese, butter, and margarine. Reduce your sugar intake, including high-fructose corn syrup and soft drinks, all of which can promote gout attacks. Instead try to include:^{[8]
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- Oats
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Raspberries
- Whole-wheat items
- Brown rice
- Black beans
- Cherries (Cherries can reduce gout attacks. One study showed that eating 10 cherries a day protected people from gout flare ups.)^{[9]
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- Low-fat or non-fat dairy
Naturally occurring substances in food called purines are converted to uric acid by your body. Studies have shown that eating foods high in purines could lead to a gout attack within a few days of eating the foods.^{[10]
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Arthritis Foundation
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Go to source} Avoid high-purine foods like organ meat (e.g. kidney, sweetbread, liver) and limit meats like seafood and red meat.^{[11]
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3
Watch what you drink and stay hydrated. Drinking six to eight 8-ounce glasses of alcohol-free fluids a day has been shown to help with gout. Liquids generally count toward water recommendations, but it's best to stick to water. You should also minimize or cut out drinking alcohol since it can metabolize and increase uric acid levels.^{[12]
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Arthritis Foundation
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Go to source} If you do want to drink something other than water, look for drinks that aren't high in sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or caffeinated. Sugar can increase your risk of gout and caffeine can be dehydrating.^{[13]
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- You can still drink coffee in moderation (two to three cups a day). Some studies show that coffee may reduce the levels of uric acid in your blood, although the studies do not show a decrease in gout attacks.
4
Get more vitamin C. Some studies show that vitamin C may reduce the levels of uric acid in your blood, although the studies do not show a decrease in gout attacks. It's suggested that vitamin C can help your kidneys excrete uric acid, but isn’t a lot of conclusive research yet. Consider taking a 500 mg daily supplement after consulting your doctor. If you'd rather increase your vitamin C through your diet, try eating:^{[14]
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- Fruits: cantaloupe, citrus, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, guava
- Vegetables: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, green and red peppers, spinach, cabbage, turnip greens, white potatoes, tomatoes^{[15]
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5
Exercise. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day—this can help you lose weight, which lowers your chances of developing gout.^{[16]
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Harvard Medical School
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Go to source} Weight loss has been linked to lower uric acid levels.^{[17]
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- Do whatever type of exercise is most manageable for you. For instance, if you can't jog for 30 minutes, try briskly walking for at least 15.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Do uric acid crystals go away?

Robert Dhir, MD
Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.

Robert Dhir, MD

Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon

Expert Answer

In general, uric acid crystals do not just go away. Removal requires specific treatment with medication and a careful diet that avoids foods that raise uric acid levels. It is best to speak to your doctor about a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs as they can take into account your weight, age, gender, current habits, etc., to ensure you’re getting the right plan.

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Question

How do you flush uric acid out of your body?

Robert Dhir, MD
Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.

Robert Dhir, MD

Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon

Expert Answer

You can reduce the levels of uric acid in your body in various ways. Some ways to do this include: Limiting or stop having alcohol, eat foods that don’t contain high levels of purine (e.g., don’t eat red meats, broths, gravies, organ or offal meats, sardines, herrings, scallops, anchovies, etc., as these are high-purine foods) and take appropriate medications as advised by your doctor. Try to limit sugar and saturated fats. Instead, add more foods to your diet that can help reduce uric acid, such as oats, leafy greens, broccoli, raspberries, cherries brown rice, wholewheat bread, and black beans. Cherries have been shown scientifically to have very good protective effect, so try to add a few of these each day to your diet if they’re readily available. Also be sure to exercise daily if this is possible, as it will help a lot.

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Question

What neutralizes uric acid in the body?

Robert Dhir, MD
Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon
Dr. Robert Dhir is a board certified Urologist, Urological Surgeon, and the Founder of HTX Urology in Houston, Texas. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Dhir’s expertise includes minimally-invasive treatments for enlarged prostate (UroLift), kidney stone disease, surgical management of urological cancers, and men’s health (erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and infertility). His practice has been named a Center of Excellence for the UroLift procedure, and is a pioneer in non-surgical procedures for ED using his patented Wave Therapy. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Georgetown University and was awarded honors in pre-medical studies, urology, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. Dr. Dhir served as chief resident during his urological surgical residency at University of Texas at Houston / MD Anderson Cancer Center in addition to completing his internship in general surgery. Dr. Dhir was voted Top Doctor in Urology for 2018 to 2019, one of the top three Best Rated Urologists in 2019 & 2020 for Houston Texas, and Texas Monthly has named him to the 2019 & 2020 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars list.

Robert Dhir, MD

Board Certified Urologist & Urological Surgeon

Expert Answer

It is important to stop adding purine-rich foods to your diet to avoid increasing purine levels in your body. This includes such foods as red meat, organ or offal meats, sardines, shrimp, mussels, herring, anchovies, trout, haddock, scallops, lobster, mackerel, etc. Instead, add more foods that contain vitamin C, such as fortified cereals, fruits like pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, watermelon, etc. and vegetables (most are good). Also, try to lower your sugar intake and eat low-fat dairy in place of saturated fats. Drink plenty of water and try adding some tart cherry juice to you diet, as it is thought to help reduce uric acid. Be careful about diets that suggest you can “alkalanize” your body, as ridding yourself of uric acid buildup is a lot more complicated than simply adding certain foods or substances to your body. It is always best to eat a healthy diet and exercise more, regardless of what you’re trying to fix.

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Currently there is no strong evidence or scientific research showing that remedies like devil’s claw are safe and effective for gout.^{[18]
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Your uric acid levels may not always correlate with gout. Some people can have gout and normal levels of uric acid.^{[19]
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