In water, baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate, NaHCO3) ionizes into Bicarbonate (HCO3-) which is readily absorbed into the blood stream in GI track to raise the blood Bicarbonate level and help relieve the gout symptoms.

However, if baking soda has been sitting around for too long, Sodium Bicarbonate can lose its Carbon Dioxide (CO2) content and turn it into Sodium Carbonate (Na2CO3). Sodium Carbonate does not produce Bicarbonate in water, therefore, will not raise the blood Bicarbonate level to relieve the gout symptoms.

Would you tell us whether or not the fresh baking soda works better than the old one on your gout? Thanks.

PS. You may not want to use the stale baking soda in baking either because it will not produce CO2 to help the dough rise and will end up with the bread that is flat.

I certainly will try to report the (hopefully positive) effect of fresh baking soda in a week or so. So far, after a day on the fresh stuff, I have not noticed a difference.

As a matter of fact, after a week of steady improvement and the gout going into remission, things turned for the worse and I got another painful gout attack last night. I have no idea why I got this new attack, but don't think it had anything to do with baking soda. After my very first attack ten days ago I have religiously followed a low-purines, no-alcohol diet. The only thing I could think of was that I had to stand on my feet for a couple of hours the night before at a Christmas party and my "bad" foot felt constricted and got warm. Could that have triggered it?

Changing subjects somewhat, I wonder if someone has explored the possibility of injecting a solution of baking soda (or perhaps just alkaline water) directly into the affected joint? I would think that not having to go through the stomach the solution would be more potent and effective in trying to make the uric acid and those evil crystals more soluble.

(Can those crystals *ever* leave the body or become insignificant? Does taking allopurinol do that?)

Stan

I agree with you that you aggravated your gout before it has completely subsided by putting on a "tight" shoe and standing on it for too long. Be sure to keep taking the effective dosage of colchicine or an NSAID and rest until the attack is completely gone before resuming normal activities.

Baking soda in water is not a treatment for gout in mainstream medicine. I haven't seen any study that concerns treatment of gout with baking soda, either given by month or by injection into the joints.

Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals that causes gout can dissolve and be eliminated from the body to prevent gout attacks after the serum uric acid level has been maintain at less than 5.5~6.0 mg/dL for many months or years. Normally that requires taking Allopurinol, Probenecid, sulfinpyrazone, etc.

Aged 78 had first attack a couple of months ago. Immediately put on Allopurinol 300mg and Colchicine. Took nearly 2 weeks to subside (Big toe huge and near red/purple) However went onto net to investigate Gout and alt. methods and found 'icuredmygout' site and a few others. icured my gout is marvellous. I want to thank the person whose site that is. After about a month of pills I decided to drop both and started the Bs VERY cautiously as I have 'heart failure' from a severe myocard 5 yrs ago..so it was only 1/2 tsp am and pm. I think I did things the wrong way round , caus a new attack started (very mild). I was scared what my Dr would say so went back on allopurinal, which I should'nt have! However this attack altho fairly swollen and a bit red was not atall sore!!. I am sticking to the Allopurinal, but stopped the colchicine again and carry on with BS 2-3 X 1/2 tsp a day, testing urine regularly etc. So altho swollen but painless, I 'm doing well I think but hav'nt got my head around the huge amt of info out there or the correct diet yet. Still studying!! But thanks to the wonderful people who put their information out there, without having to buy someones book or very expensive pills!
Margerry

Very glad the pain from your gout attack has subsided. FYI:

1) As you are aware of, baking soda can impact on HF and MI. I would get an OK from the doctor to take it.

2) When Allopurinol is started or re-started, it can drop the blood uric acid level suddenly and trigger the attack. Allo should not be started during the attack because it can worsen and prolong the attack. Taking Allo on and off can invite gout attacks accordingly. Take Colchicine or an NSAID when Allo is restarted.

3) Keep Colchicine or NSAIDs readily available all the time. To minimize the severity of gout attacks, take Colchicine or an NSAID the minute the sign of an attack is noticed, even if it's in the middle of night.

Best of your health and take care.

I have had gout for 17 years and tried everything from NSAIDs (Indomethacin helped), allopurinol (reduced uric acid level, but attacks continued) and Colchicine (fairly effective) recently. I still would get about one gout attck a month.

After reading this forum I decided to try alkalizing my body.

To reduce acidity, instead of Sodium bicarb (which I did not want to take regularly, being a cardiac/ blood pressure patient) I tried famotidine. Famotidine is taken to reduce acid production in stomach.

It worked. After years of painful existance I am living comfortably

I have not had a gout attack for about 3 months now. Even the body/joint pains are gone. I think reduction in acidity in the gut somehow reduces body acidity and crystalization of uric acid in joints.

Interesting. Not having heard of famotidine I looked it up. It's a prescription drug and an over-the-counter drug (a brand name is Pepcid AC, which I heard of).

Did you take it to stop a gout attack or to prevent attacks?

Are you taking it every day? If so, are you supposed to stop eventually or continue indefinitely (like one does with allopurinol)? In what doses are you taking it?

I'm glad it's working for you. Please report back how you are doing after a longer period of time, i.e., 6 months, a year, etc.

Also, over those 17 years, have you changed your diet in an attempt to prevent gout? Since you started taking famotidine, have you been "bad" and eaten some high-purine foods and/or alcohol? If so, no onset of an attack?

Stan

I read somewhere that many people have high blood uric acid but only a few get gout attacks because uric acid crystalizes in joints. Also that uric acid crystalizes in highly acidic environment.

To reduce acidity in the digestive system, I presume one could try BS or any proton pump inhibitor or H2 blocker and it should work. BS would have side effects if taken regularly in large doses.

I tried famotidine to prevent attacks (I have found Colchicine effective to stop).

I started with a 20mg tab one hr after each meal and reduced after a week to 1 tab at bedtime (or 1 hr after dinner). I presume I would continue indefinitely, since i have not had an attack for 3 months now. Its seems to be better and safer than BS.

I have found diet changes ineffective over the years. I eat everything and drink occaisionally. I also take 100 mg allopurinol once a day for many years

The benefit is noticable immediately as there are no more joint aches and twinges of pain when an attack is coming up.

I am in India and thought I would share this with other sufferer hoping someone may benefit this way.

Will get back after a few more months

I have to write this.That is my feeling.We must share our experiences.for the first time I am seeing a strong and immediate effects for any kind of medication.The baking soda does work. I am usually very sceptical..can not be convinced easily...I have challenged my gout severly..I ate too much red meat and though I had panick that night because I had to attend the next day a course. i took half teaspoonful of BS with my usual medication (Arthrotec-NSAID).I Needed only one tab 1tsp of BS.Nothing happened the next morning.i did the challeng repeatedly with execellent persistent and consistent results.no attacks of gout for the the months os april and may 08 .I am a paediatrician in scotland aged 56 and has luckily a low blood pressure.Thanks a lot for those who contributed in the icuredmyself website.

How often do you take Arthrotec?
I take only it when attack comes and BS helped me a lot but as soon as I stop taking Arthrotec, it comes back in a week or so on a difference joint

Well, I know everyone is different and what works for some people may not work for others.
My father in law has his worst gout attack ever (over 3 weeks and still with lot of pain in his wrist and elbow) despite of eating only what should be good for him. He started taking baking soda a couple of weeks ago, four times a day, with no success
This is also the second time he got an attack on his arms and not in his feet

We are sorry to say that he is part of the 1% of unlucky guys who couldn't be cured with Baking Soda

He'll keep trying different things though

Sorry to hear about your father in law. Remember that the goal is to prevent attacks from happening in the first place. The only way to do that is to monitor uric acid levels in the blood and lower them to a safe level. He should be taking Allopurinol and having his blood tested regularly.

In regards to pain relief from an attack, home remedies like baking soda can help, but he probably needs medication such as indomethacin or colchicine to help reduce the swelling and pain. He should see a doctor right away for a prescription if he hasn't done so already.

For now, I am mixing a small amount of baking soda (about 1/4 teaspoon) into the water I drink throughout the day. This helps keep the water (and me) alkaline which is reported to make things easier on the kidneys to process the uric acid.

Let us know how things are going. Good luck