Colchicine Side Effects Center
- Generic Name: colchicine
- Brand Name: Colchicine
Colchicine (Colchicine) side effects drug center
Colchicine Side Effects Center
What Is Colchicine?
Colchicine (Brand: Colcrys) is an alkaloid used to prevent or treat gout attacks (flares), and is also used to prevent attacks of pain in the abdomen, chest, or joints caused by a certain inherited disease (familial Mediterranean fever).
What Are Side Effects of Colchicine?
Common side effects of Colchicine include:
- diarrhea,
- nausea,
- cramping,
- abdominal pain, and
- vomiting.
Contact your doctor if you experience rare but serious side effects of colchicine, including:
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Severe diarrhea or vomiting
- Muscle weakness or pain
- Numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
- Pale or gray color of the lips, tongue, or palms
- Signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat)
- Unusual weakness or tiredness
- Fast heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Changes in urine output
Dosage for Colchicine
To treat acute gouty arthritis, the usual dose of colchicine to relieve or abort an attack is 1 to 1.2 mg (two 0.5 mg granules or two 0.6 mg tablets). This dose may be followed by one unit of either preparation (granule or tablet) every hour, or two units every two hours, until pain is relieved or diarrhea occurs.
Drug Interactions with Colchicine
Colchicine may interact with azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole), cyclosporine, HIV medications (e.g., ritonavir), macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin), telithromycin, verapamil, atorvastatin, digoxin, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, pravastatin, or simvastatin. Inform your doctor of all medications and supplements you use.
Colchicine During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, colchicine should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication passes into breast milk. While no harm to nursing infants has been reported, consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Colchicine (Brand: Colcrys) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
Colchicine Consumer Information
Side Effects: Diarrhea, nausea, cramping, abdominal pain, and vomiting may occur. If these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit outweighs the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not experience serious side effects.
Stop taking this medication and seek medical help immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: unusual bleeding or bruising, severe diarrhea or vomiting, muscle weakness or pain, numbness or tingling in fingers or toes, pale or gray color of the lips, tongue, or palms, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), unusual weakness or tiredness, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or changes in urine output.
A serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including rash, itching or swelling (especially of the face, tongue, or throat), severe dizziness, or trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
In the US: Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
In Canada: Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Read the entire patient information overview for Colchicine.
Colchicine Professional Information
Side Effects
Gastrointestinal disorders are the most common adverse reactions with colchicine. They are often the first signs of toxicity and may indicate that the colchicine dose needs to be reduced or therapy stopped. These include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Colchicine has been reported to cause neuromuscular toxicity, which may present as muscle pain or weakness (see Warnings and Precautions).
Toxic manifestations associated with colchicine include myelosuppression, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and injury to cells in the renal, hepatic, circulatory, and central nervous systems. These most often occur with excessive accumulation or overdosage (see Overdose).
The following adverse reactions have been reported with colchicine. These are generally reversible by interrupting treatment or lowering the dose of colchicine:
- Digestive: Abdominal cramping, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lactose intolerance, nausea, vomiting
- Neurological: Sensory motor neuropathy
- Dermatological: Alopecia, maculopapular rash, purpura, rash
- Hematological: Leukopenia, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, aplastic anemia
- Hepatobiliary: Elevated AST, elevated ALT
- Musculoskeletal: Myopathy, elevated CPK, myotonia, muscle weakness, muscle pain, rhabdomyolysis
- Reproductive: Azoospermia, oligospermia
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Colchicine.
© Colchicine Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc., and Colchicine Consumer Information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
