Opioids and Gout: A Risky Combination 

A doctor wearing gloves holding pills of various sizes and colors.

By: Lindsay N. Helget, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center

A large study of Veterans Health Administration data shows that patients with gout are significantly more likely to develop chronic opioid use than those without the disease. The findings underscore the importance of optimal gout management and careful prescribing practices.