Antigout agents are also called antihyperuricemic agents. These agents work to either correct overproduction or underexcretion of uric acid.
For the long term control of gout, hyperuricemia caused by formation of uric acid from purines, can be effectively controlled with these agents. The choice of xanthine oxidase inhibitors or uricosuric medicines is based on the level of urinary uric acid excretion, renal function, age of the patient, history of renal calculi and presence of tophi.