colchicine

Generic Name: colchicine

What is colchicine?

The exact way that colchicine works is unknown. It appears to alter your body’s response to deposited uric acid crystals. This leads to less swelling and less pain.

Colchicine is used to treat attacks of gout.

Colchicine will not prevent the progression of this disease. It is useful only in decreasing the incidence of attacks and in relieving pain and discomfort.

Colchicine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
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Attacks

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Heart Disease

Kidney Stone

Kidney stones

Medicine

Stomach

Uric acid

abdominal pain

cause

diarrhea

disease

dose

effects

experience

first

gout

kidney

medical

medication

other

side

side effect

side effects

stop

than

throat

vomiting

weakness

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking colchicine?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you

  • have ever had an allergic reaction to colchicine,

  • have kidney disease or poorly functioning kidneys,

  • have liver disease,

  • have an ulcer in your stomach or another type of stomach disease,

  • have heart disease,

  • have blood problems, or

  • are elderly or debilitated.

You may not be able to take colchicine, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Colchicine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether colchicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether colchicine will harm a nursing infant. Do not take colchicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take colchicine?

Take colchicine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.

To treat an attack, colchicine may be taken up to once every hour until the pain is relieved, until the maximum amount of medicine has been taken, or until nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea occurs. To prevent an attack from occurring, colchicine may be taken every day or several days a week. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

Never take more medicine than is prescribed to treat an acute gout attack.

Store colchicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of colchicine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Where can I get more information about colchicine?
Your pharmacist has information about colchicine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of colchicine?

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking colchicine and seek emergency medical attention:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

  • a rash;

  • a sore throat;

  • a fever;

  • unusual bleeding or bruising;

  • tiredness or weakness; or

  • numbness or tingling.

In general, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the first signs of too much colchicine. Stop taking colchicine when you experience these side effects. If these side effects are severe or if they do not resolve, contact your doctor.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any reaction that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about colchicine?

Notify your doctor if you experience a skin rash; a sore throat; a fever; unusual bleeding, bruising, tiredness, or weakness; or numbness or tingling. These symptoms could be early signs of a serious side effect.

If you are taking colchicine to treat an acute attack of gout, therapy should be stopped as soon as the pain is relieved, when the maximum amount of medicine has been taken, or at the first sign of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.

What should I avoid while taking colchicine?

Follow your doctor"s recommendations about diet.

What other drugs will affect colchicine?

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines that you are taking so that your therapy can be monitored for interactions.

What happens if I have an overdose of colchicine?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a colchicine overdose include nausea; vomiting; stomach pain; diarrhea; muscle weakness; burning in your throat, stomach, or skin; difficulty breathing; delirium; and seizures. An overdose of colchicine can result in death.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008