Thanks, Andy – I need to make a couple of points:
1. 6 months may not be long enough. Keep careful records of uric acid levels and gout flares. Consider yourself safe when you have gone 6 months without a gout flare, and with uric acid at 5 or below. Get monthly tests for uric acid, kidney function, and liver function. Uric Acid Test frequency can be relaxed when results stabilize, but never less than once a year.
2. My advice is not professional. It is here to help you discuss gout with your own professional medical team, and is no substitute for visiting your doctor. There may well be circumstances in your medical history or family history that make my advice bad. I usually describe myself as a layman. A better word might be amateur – I do it for love, but it is vital that you discuss my advice with your doctor.