Colchicine

Generic name: Colchicine
Drug class: Antigout agents

Usage of Colchicine

Colchicine affects the way the body responds to uric acid crystals, which reduces swelling and pain.

Because colchicine was developed prior to federal regulations requiring FDA review of all marketed drug products, not all uses for colchicine have been approved by the FDA.

The Colcrys brand of colchicine is FDA-approved to treat or prevent gout in adults, and to treat a genetic condition called Familial Mediterranean Fever in adults and children who are at least 4 years old.

The Mitigare brand of colchicine is FDA-approved to prevent gout flares in adults.

Generic forms of colchicine have been used to treat or prevent attacks of gout, or to treat symptoms of Behcets syndrome (such as swelling, redness, warmth, and pain).

Colchicine is not a cure for gouty arthritis or Behcets syndrome, and it will not prevent these diseases from progressing. Colchicine should not be used as a routine pain medication for other conditions.

Colchicine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Colchicine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Colchicine may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

muscle pain or weakness;

numbness or tingly feeling in your fingers or toes;

pale or gray appearance of your lips, tongue, or hands;

severe or ongoing vomiting or diarrhea;

fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or

easy bruising, unusual bleeding, feeling weak or tired.

Common side effects of colchicine may include:

nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; or

diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Colchicine

You should not use colchicine if you are allergic to it.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with colchicine, especially if you have liver or kidney disease. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

cyclosporine;

nefazodone;

tipranavir;

clarithromycin or telithromycin;

itraconazole or ketoconazole; or

HIV or AIDS medicine--atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, or saquinavir.

To make sure colchicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver disease;

kidney disease; or

if you take digoxin, or cholesterol-lowering medications.

It is not known whether colchicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Colchicine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Relate drugs

How to use Colchicine

Do not purchase colchicine on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Using this medication improperly or without the advice of a doctor can result in serious side effects or death.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Colchicine can be taken with or without food.

To treat a gout attack, for best results take colchicine at the first sign of the attack. The longer you wait to start taking the medication, the less effective it may be.

You may need to take a second lower dose of colchicine 1 hour after the first dose if you still have gout pain. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Your dose will depend on the reason you are taking this medicine. Colchicine doses for gout and Mediterranean fever are different.

Do not stop using colchicine unless your doctor tells you to, even if you feel fine.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Warnings

Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together with colchicine. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

What other drugs will affect Colchicine

Many drugs can interact with colchicine, and some drugs should not be used together. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with colchicine. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com'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. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com 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.