About colchicine
Anti-inflammatory medicine
Used for
- Treats gout attacks and prevents recurrent gout flares.
- Treats familial Mediterranean fever.
Usual adult dose
Gout attack: commonly 1 mg, then 0.5 mg one hour later. Prevention: commonly 0.5 mg once or twice daily. Familial Mediterranean fever: usually 1–2 mg daily.
Usual dose in children
Familial Mediterranean fever: commonly 0.5–2 mg daily, adjusted by age and response; specialist supervision is required.
Common side effects
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Low blood cell counts
- Nerve damage with prolonged or excessive dosing
Important warnings
- Overdose can be fatal; dosing errors require urgent medical attention.
- Kidney or liver problems can increase toxicity risk.
- Older adults may have greater risk of serious side effects.
- Seek urgent help for severe diarrhoea, vomiting, weakness, or unusual bruising.
Pregnancy
May be used when clinically necessary, including for familial Mediterranean fever; treatment decisions require an individualized risk-benefit assessment.
Breastfeeding
Generally considered compatible with breastfeeding at prescribed doses; monitor infants for diarrhoea or vomiting.
Interactions
- Clarithromycin, erythromycin, and other strong CYP3A4 inhibitors can dangerously raise colchicine levels.
- Verapamil, diltiazem, and ciclosporin can increase colchicine toxicity.
- Grapefruit may increase colchicine levels.
- Statins and fibrates may increase muscle injury risk.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.