Colchicine

Colchicine is a medicine used to treat gout. It is primarily used as an immediate and acute treatment for gout attack symptoms and works quickly to alleviate pain and inflammation. For that reason, it is sometimes used to treat a genetic condition called Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) which causes inflammation across the body. It is also an alternative for those who can’t take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines) like Naproxen for gout pain. Colchicine can be used in conjunction with Allopurinol, another gout treatment that is used to prevent gout flare-ups.

Gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid, which is a waste product in your body. When uric acid levels build up, it causes hard crystals to form around the joint which causes pain and inflammation in that joint.

Colchicine works to reduce inflammation by targeting white blood cells. It inhibits white blood cells from travelling to the area of inflammation which reduces the swelling and pain in the affected joint. It is also believed to affect the cell structure of the uric acid crystals, which may contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Colchicine is available in a 500mcg dose for gout. Tablets should be taken up to 2 - 4 times a day until symptoms have been relieved.

You should not exceed more than 6mg (12 tablets) per course. You should also not start another course of Colchicine until at least 3 days after your first course. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not take two doses at once. If you take more Colchicine tablets than you should, seek immediate medical attention even if you feel fine.

You should take tablets with a glass of water. You don’t need to take it with food, but some find it helpful. However, you should not drink grapefruit juice with Colchicine as it can increase your risk of developing side effects.

As with all prescription medicines, Colchicine tablets can cause some side effects. However, the most common side effects are mild and temporary.

The most common side effects are:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• vomiting (being sick)
• stomach pain
• diarrhoea

Because of the way Colchicine works, it may also be possible for your white blood cell count to become too low. If that is the case, you may experience:

• a fever
• a sore throat
• rashes or ulcers in your mouth or throat
• skin discolouration

Whilst these side effects are rare, if you experience any of the above adverse effects then you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.

For a comprehensive list of side effects, please refer to the patient information leaflet that is available to download on this website and will be available in the box with your medication.

Whilst it can be taken by most people, Colchicine is not suitable for everyone so you should always disclose your full medical history with whomever is prescribing.

You should not take Colchicine if you:

• are allergic to Colchicine or any of the other ingredients (e.g lactose)
• have a blood disorder (e.g low amounts of white or red blood cells)
• have any severe kidney, heart or liver problems
• have any issues with your digestion

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should always consult with your doctor before taking any medication.

Colchicine can potentially interfere with other medications you are taking, including over-the-counter, prescription and recreational drugs.

Speak to your doctor before taking Colchicine if you are taking:

• vitamin B12 injections for anaemia
• sympathomimetic medicines for asthma or nasal congestion (e.g oxymetazoline or pseudoephedrine)
• nervous system depressants (e.g benzodiazepines or opioids)
• certain antibiotics (e.g erythromycin or clarithromycin)
• immunosuppressant (e.g ciclosporin)

Colchicine may affect blood or urine test results. You should let whoever is conducting the test know the medicines you are taking.

If you are not sure if you fall under any of these categories, you should speak to your primary doctor before taking Colchicine.

You can buy Colchicine online here at HealthExpress for the acute treatment of gout, provided you have had a previous diagnosis of gout. All you have to do is fill out a quick confidential medical questionnaire that will then be reviewed by one of our registered doctors. Once approved, your prescription will be delivered to your front door the very next day.