Drug Uses

Colchicine is used to treat attacks of gout.

How Taken

Take each dose of Colchicine with a full glass of water. You may take this medicine 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, you may take Colchicine every day or several days a week. Do not take more doses than your doctor prescribed.

Warnings/Precautions

Do not take Colchicine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Talk to your doctor if you are or plan on becoming pregnant as this medicine may have harmful effects on the unborn baby.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, use it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Possible Side Effects

Some of the side effects that may occur while taking Colchicine include: difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; fever; rash; numbness or tingling.

Storage

Store Colchicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep out of the reach of children.

Overdose

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. If you suspect an overdose, seek immediate medical attention.

More Information

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines that you are taking. Colchicine may interact with other drugs.

Disclaimer

This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Other info about Colchicine at Wikipedia.org and other resources:

Protective Effect of Naringin, a Citrus Flavonoid, Against Colchicine-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage in Rats
Journal of Medicinal Food Aug 2010, Vol. 13, No. 4: 976-984. (Source: Journal of Medicinal Food)

Erythema nodosum and erythema induratum (nodular vasculitis): diagnosis and management
Erythema nodosum is the most common type of panniculitis; it may be due to a variety of underlying infectious or otherwise antigenic stimuli. The pathogenesis remains to be elucidated, but both neutrophilic inflammation and granulomatous inflammation are implicated. Beyond treating underlying triggers, therapeutic options consist mainly of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, symptomatic care, potassium iodide, and colchicine. Erythema induratum (nodular vasculitis) is a related but distinctly different clinicopathologic reaction pattern of the subcutaneous fat. It is classically caused by an antigenic stimulus from Mycobacterium tuberculosis but may be associated with several other underlying disorders. After appropriate antimicrobial treatment in tuberculous cases, therapy for erythema ...

Statistical optimization of process variables for production of an anticancer drug (colchicine derivatives) through fermentation: at scale up level.
STATISTICAL OPTIMIZATION OF PROCESS VARIABLES FOR PRODUCTION OF AN ANTICANCER DRUG (COLCHICINE DERIVATIVES) THROUGH FERMENTATION: AT SCALE UP LEVEL. N Biotechnol. 2010 Jul 17; Authors: Dubey KK, Behera BK Effect of various nutritional components and fermentation parameters on biotransformation of colchicine using Bacillus megateriumACBT03 to produce 3-demethylated colchicine (3-DMC) has been investigated. Initially, Plackett-Burman (PB) design was used to evaluate the eleven nutritional variables to screen medium component that significantly influences the 3-demethylated colchicine (3-DMC) production. Three most statistically significant nutrients i.e., starch, glycerol and yeast extract were identified. Response surface methodology was used to optimise fermenter operational fa...

MEFV gene compound heterozygous mutations in familial Mediterranean fever phenotype: a retrospective clinical and molecular study
Conclusions. We suggest that regular colchicine therapy may be administered to symptomatic patients with MEVF gene compound heterozygous mutations, regardless of the mutation type. (Source: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation)

COLCRYS (Colchicine) Tablet, Film Coated [AR Scientific Inc.]
Updated Date: Jul 15, 2010 EST (Source: DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST))