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Colchicine

 

Colchicine Review

brand name: Generic only. No brands available.
generic name: Colchicine

How does it work?

Colchicine was originally extracted from the autumn crocus but is now synthesised.

Colchicine binds to a substance (tubulin) found in white blood cells (leucocytes).

In gout, crystals of uric acid are deposited in certain joints. White blood cells migrate to the areas of the body where uric acid has been deposited. They attempt to engulf the crystals, and, as a result,lactic acid and pro-inflammatory enzymes are released. These substances give rise to the characteristic pain and swelling of gout.

Colchicine inhibits the migration of the white blood cells into the inflamed area, causing a reduction in pain and inflammation.

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.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• This medicine should not be used by breastfeeding mothers. Discuss this with your doctor.
  
  
• This medicine should not be used in pregnancy. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
  
  

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

Notify your doctor if you experience a skin rash; unusual bleeding, tiredness, bruising, or weakness; a fever; a sore throat; 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, when the maximum amount of medicine has been taken, therapy should be stopped as soon as the pain is relieved, or at the first sign of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• "Pins and needles" sensation in hands and feet (peripheral neuritis)
  
  
• Loss of hair
  
  
• Disorder of the muscles (myopathy)
  
  
• Blood disorders
  
  
• Nausea and vomiting
  
  
• Abdominal pain
  
  
• Damage to the kidneys
  
  
• Damage to the liver
  
  
• Bleeding from the stomach
  
  
• Decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow (bone marrow suppression)
  
  
• Diarrhoea
  
  
• Rash
  
  

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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.