Last updated: October 2026
There are no human studies of CBD for gout, so it can’t be recommended to treat flares or prevent them. CBD doesn’t lower uric acid, the cause of gout. What works is well established: anti-inflammatory painkillers, colchicine or steroids for flares, and urate-lowering medicine such as allopurinol to stop them coming back. CBD can also interact with colchicine.
Below: what the evidence says, why people try CBD for gout, the colchicine interaction, CBD creams, what the NHS and NICE recommend, and when to get urgent help.
Does CBD help gout?
| Type of evidence | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Human trials of CBD for gout | None |
| Reviews of cannabis in rheumatic diseases (2024) | No gout trials; evidence in other conditions is limited and mixed |
| Lab and animal studies | Cannabinoids affect inflammation pathways; not tested in people with gout |
| Uric acid | No evidence CBD lowers it |
Gout is caused by uric acid crystals in a joint. Anything that only dulls pain doesn’t treat the cause, and untreated gout can damage joints and kidneys over time.
Why people try CBD for gout
Gout flares are extremely painful, and some people can’t take anti-inflammatory painkillers because of stomach, kidney or heart problems. Others want something for general wellbeing between flares. Interest in CBD for pain is widespread, but for gout specifically there’s no evidence yet. See CBD and pain for what the wider research shows.
CBD and gout medicines
- Colchicine: broken down by an enzyme (CYP3A4) that CBD can block. Raised colchicine levels can cause serious side effects, so don’t combine them without your doctor’s or pharmacist’s advice.
- Allopurinol and febuxostat: no well-known interaction, but check with your pharmacist.
- Kidney problems: common in people with gout; ask before taking any supplement.
See can CBD interact with medication? and CBD and the kidneys.
CBD cream or balm for gout
Topical CBD hasn’t been studied for gout. During a flare, the joint is usually too tender to rub, and the NHS advises keeping it cool and rested. Between flares, some people use a balm as part of a massage routine for general stiffness. See CBD balm.
What helps a gout flare (NHS)
- Take any medicine you’ve been prescribed as soon as possible; it should start to work within 2 days.
- Rest and raise the limb.
- Keep the joint cool: an ice pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel, for up to 20 minutes at a time.
- Drink lots of water, unless a GP tells you not to.
- Keep bedclothes off the joint at night.
- Don’t put pressure on the joint.
Painkillers such as ibuprofen can help if suitable for you. A GP may prescribe colchicine or a short course of steroids for flares.
Preventing gout coming back
- Urate-lowering medicine: NICE recommends offering allopurinol or febuxostat, aiming to keep uric acid below a target level, especially if you have repeated flares.
- Lifestyle: lose weight if needed, cut down on alcohol (especially beer), sugary drinks and large portions of red meat, offal and shellfish, and stay active.
- Regular blood tests to check uric acid levels.
When to get urgent help
Get an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if you have sudden pain and swelling in a joint that’s getting worse, or you also feel hot, shivery or unwell. A hot, swollen joint with a fever can be a joint infection, which needs treatment quickly.
FAQs
Does CBD help gout?
There are no human studies of CBD for gout, and it doesn’t lower uric acid. Proven treatments include anti-inflammatory painkillers, colchicine and allopurinol.
Can I take CBD with colchicine?
Only with your doctor’s or pharmacist’s advice. CBD can block the enzyme that breaks down colchicine, which could raise its levels.
Does CBD cream help gout?
It hasn’t been studied for gout. During a flare, keep the joint cool and rested and use treatments your GP recommends.
Does CBD lower uric acid?
There’s no evidence it does. Medicines such as allopurinol and febuxostat lower uric acid.
What is the fastest way to ease a gout flare?
Rest and raise the joint, use an ice pack, and take painkillers or prescribed medicines as advised. Start treatment as early as possible in a flare.
Sources
- NHS. Gout.
- NICE. Gout: diagnosis and management (NG219).
- emc. Epidyolex: summary of product characteristics (CYP3A4 interactions).
- Cannabis therapy in rheumatological diseases: a systematic review. North Clin Istanb, 2024.
This guide is general information, not medical advice.
