Colchicine

When should one not use Colchicine

• If you are allergic to Colchicine
• If you have a severe blood disorder (low white cell count/ low platelet count)
• If you are a woman of childbearing age who is not using effective contraception
• If you are undergoing hemodialysis (blood purification procedure done in kidney failure)
• If you have kidney or liver problems

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Inflammation of the mouth, sore throat
• Prolonged bleeding, bruising or skin problems

Other General Warnings

• Bone marrow suppression (a decrease in bone marrow function leading to a reduction in white blood cells)
• Reduction in red blood cells and pigment (aplastic anaemia) and/or decreased blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
• Liver, kidney, gastrointestinal and heart disease
• Patients with abnormal blood counts
• Elderly and weak patients
• Also, regular blood tests are advised for continuous monitoring

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Certain antibiotics (Clarithromycin, Erythromycin and Telithromycin)
• Medicines used to treat HIV/AIDS (Ritonavir, Atazanavir and Indinavir)
• Cyclosporine (immunosuppressant drug used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• Medicines used to treat fungal infections (Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, and Voriconazole)
• Certain heart medicines (Verapamil and Diltiazem)
• Disulfiram (used to treat alcoholism)

Interactions with food items

• Taking grapefruit juice may lead to increased amount of Colchicine in your blood
• Drink plenty of water (this flushes out uric acid from your blood)

Overdose

Missed a Dose