How Is Gout Treated – How Does Medication Works? Doctors use medicines to treat an acute attack of gout, including: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Corticosteroids, such as prednisone Colchicine, which works best when taken within the first 12 hours of an acute attack. Sometimes doctors prescribe NSAIDs or colchicine in small daily doses to prevent future attacks. There are also medicines that lower the level of uric acid in the blood.