About Colchicine

The information below should not be taken as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking Colchicine.

Colchicine is an anti-gout agent that is prescribed primarily for treatment of gout attacks. It works by decreasing the body's inflammatory reaction to the formation of uric acid crystals. As a prophylactic, or suppressant, it reduces the occurrence of gout attacks and has an analgesic effect on the pain and discomfort that is experienced as a result.

Colchicine is also sometimes prescribed to treat Familial Mediterranean Fever, or FMF, an inherited condition that causes pain, fever, and swelling of the abdominal region and lungs.

Colchicine may be taken as a preventative, with or without food, once a day. If it's being used to treat the pain associated with a gout atack, it should be taken at the first signs of onset, with another, smaller dose taken one hour later. Most patients experience relief from symptoms on this regimen. Those who do not should contact their health care provider before taking additional doses.

Patients who take Colchicine as a preventative should continue taking the medication even after improvement is noticed. If a "break through" attack occurs while taking this medication, a health care professional should be consulted immediately. Similarly, a Colchicine regimen should not be stopped without consulting a health care provider.

Those taking Colchicine should abstain from eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while on this medication.

Colchicine may cause minor side effects, including stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting. More serious side effects might include weakness, fatigue, numbness in the extremities, muscle pain, or signs of infection such as sore throat, fever, and chills. In addition, those who experience the symptoms of allergic reaction should stop taking Colchicine and seek medical attention.