Brand
name : Colchicine
Description
Colchicine (KOL-chi-seen) is used to prevent or treat attacks of gout
(also called gouty arthritis). People with gout have too much uric acid
in their blood and joints. An attack of gout occurs when uric acid causes
inflammation (pain, redness, swelling, and heat) in a joint. Colchicine
does not cure gout or take the place of other medicines that lower the
amount of uric acid in the body. It prevents or relieves gout attacks
by reducing inflammation. Colchicine is not an ordinary pain reliever
and will not relieve most kinds of pain.
Colchicine may also be used for other conditions as determined by
your doctor.
Colchicine may be used in 2 ways. Most people take small amounts of
it regularly for a long time (months or even years) to prevent severe
attacks or other problems caused by inflammation. Other people take
large amounts of colchicine during a short period of time (several
hours) only when the medicine is needed to relieve an attack that is
occurring. The chance of serious side effects is much lower with the
first (preventive) kind of treatment.
Because some of colchicine's side effects can be very serious, you
should discuss with your doctor the good that this medicine can do
as well as the risks of using it. Make sure you understand exactly
how you are to use it, and follow the instructions carefully, to lessen
the chance of unwanted effects.
Before Using Colchicine?
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must
be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and
your doctor will make. For colchicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to colchicine. Also tell your health care professional
if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives,
or dyes.
Pregnancy—Studies in humans taking large amounts of colchicine
to relieve attacks have not been done. Fertility problems have occurred
in some men taking small amounts of colchicine regularly (preventive
treatment), but these problems went away after treatment was stopped.
Many other men taking preventive amounts of colchicine have fathered
children without stopping treatment. Also, many women receiving preventive
treatment with colchicine have become pregnant and given birth to normal,
healthy babies. Some women receive preventive amounts of colchicine
regularly for a medical condition that can cause fertility problems
or miscarriages. Treatment with colchicine does not increase, and may
actually decrease, the occurrence of these problems in women with this
condition.
Colchicine has caused birth defects and other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding—Colchicine passes into breast milk. When breast-feeding
mothers receive preventive treatment with one 0.6-milligram (mg) tablet
twice a day, the amount that appears in the breast milk is not likely
to cause problems in nursing babies. There is no information about
whether colchicine can cause problems in nursing babies when the mother
takes larger amounts of it. Mothers who are taking this medicine and
who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.
Children—Studies on the effects of colchicine in patients with
gout have been done only in adults. Gout is very rare in children.
However, colchicine is used in children 3 years of age and older who
need preventive treatment for other medical conditions. It has not
been reported to cause different side effects or problems in these
children than it does in adults.Older adults—Elderly people are
especially sensitive to the effects of colchicine. Also, colchicine
may stay in the body longer
in older patients than it does in younger adults. This may increase
the chance of side effects during treatment.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used
together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor
may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
When you are taking colchicine, it is especially important that your
health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:Amphotericin
B by injection (e.g., Fungizone) or
Antineoplastics (cancer medicine) or
Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
Azathioprine (e.g., Imuran) or
Chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin) or
Cyclophosphamide (e.g., Cytoxan) or
Flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon) or
Ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene) or
Interferon (e.g., Intron A, Roferon-A) or
Mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol) or
Methotrexate (e.g., Mexate) or
Phenylbutazone (e.g., Butazolidin) or
Plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin) or
Colchicine can build up in the body and cause serious side effects
if too much of it is taken or if it is taken too often. Therefore,
do not take more of this medicine, and do not take it more often,
than directed by your doctor. This is especially important for elderly
patients, who are more likely than younger adults to have colchicine
build up in the body and who are also more sensitive to its effects.
Proper Use of This Medicine?
For patients taking small amounts of colchicine regularly (preventive
treatment):
Take this medicine regularly as directed by your doctor, even if you
feel well. If you are taking colchicine to prevent gout attacks, and
you are also taking another medicine to reduce the amount of uric acid
in your body, you probably will be able to stop taking colchicine after
a while. However, if you stop taking it too soon, your attacks may
return or get worse. If you are taking colchicine for certain other
medical conditions, you may need to keep taking it for the rest of
your life.
If you are taking colchicine to prevent gout attacks, ask your doctor
to recommend other medicine to be taken if an attack occurs. Most people
receiving preventive amounts of colchicine should not take extra colchicine
to relieve an attack. However, some people cannot take the other medicines
that are used for gout attacks and will have to take extra colchicine.
If you are one of these people, ask your doctor to tell you the largest
amount of colchicine you should take for an attack and how long you
should wait before starting to take the smaller preventive amounts
again. Be sure to follow these directions carefully.
For patients taking large amounts of colchicine only when needed to
relieve an attack:
Start taking this medicine at the first sign of the attack for best
results.
Stop taking this medicine as soon as the pain is relieved or at the
first sign of nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea . Also, stop
taking colchicine when you have taken the largest amount that your
doctor ordered for each attack, even if the pain is not relieved or
none of these side effects occurs.
The first few times you take colchicine, keep a record of each dose
as you take it. Then, whenever stomach upset (nausea, vomiting, stomach
pain, or diarrhea) occurs, count the number of doses you have taken.
The next time you need colchicine, stop taking it before that number
of doses is reached. For example, if diarrhea occurs after your fifth
dose of medicine, take no more than four doses the next time. If taking
fewer doses does not prevent stomach upset from occurring after a few
treatments, check with your doctor.
After taking colchicine tablets to treat an attack, do not take any
more colchicine for at least 3 days. Also, after receiving the medicine
by injection for an attack, do not take any more colchicine (tablets
or injection) for at least 7 days. Elderly patients may have to wait
even longer between treatments and should check with their doctor for
directions.
If you are taking colchicine for an attack of gout, and you are also
taking other medicine to reduce the amount of uric acid in your body,
do not stop taking the other medicine. Continue taking the other medicine
as directed by your doctor.
Missed dose:Colchicine
If you are taking colchicine regularly (for example, every day) and
you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost
time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular
dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
To store this medicine:Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink,
or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to
break down.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure
that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using Colchicine
If you must take colchicine for a long time (preventive treatment),
your doctor may want to check your progress at regular visits. He or
she may also want to check for certain side effects. Finding these
side effects early can help to keep them from becoming serious.
Stomach problems may be more likely to occur if you drink large amounts
of alcoholic beverages while taking colchicine. Also, drinking too
much alcohol may increase the amount of uric acid in your blood. This
may lessen the effects of colchicine when it is used to prevent gout
attacks. Therefore, people who take colchicine should be careful to
limit the amount of alcohol they drink.
Side Effects of Colchicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur
they may need medical attention.
Stop taking this medicine immediately if any of the following side
effects occur:
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
However, check with your doctor if either of the following side effects
continues or is bothersome:
Less common ,
Loss of appetite ,
With long-term use :
Loss of hair
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.
If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
For all of these conditions, colchicine is usually given regularly
in small amounts to reduce inflammation (preventive treatment). This
usually decreases the occurrence of severe attacks or other problems
caused by inflammation.
Colchicine is not a cure for these conditions. It will help prevent
problems caused by inflammation only as long as you continue to take
it.
Some patients with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (pseudogout)
or familial Mediterranean fever may take larger amounts of colchicine
only when an attack occurs, to relieve the attack.
For patients taking colchicine for familial Mediterranean fever:
