The following information is a summary about Colchicine. It is not intended to replace a doctor's instructions.
COLCHICINE DRUG INFO
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.
COLCHICINE (KOL-chi-seen)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Colchicine
USES: This medicine is an antigout agent used to treat and prevent pain associated with gouty arthritis. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
HOW TO USE: Take colchicine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. To treat an attack, colchicine may be taken up to once every hour until the pain is relieved, until the maximum amount of medicine has been taken, or until nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea occurs. To prevent an attack from occurring, colchicine may be taken every day or several days a week. Follow your doctor's instructions. Never take more medicine than is prescribed to treat an acute gout attack.
SIDE EFFECTS: The most common side effects of colchicine involve the stomach and bowel and are dose related. These include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. One of the most worrisome side effects of colchicine is that it can damage the bone marrow causing severe anemia and seriously low white blood counts, thereby increasing the risk of infections. All patients taking colchicine long-term require blood count monitoring. Colchicine can also cause hair loss, weakness, and nerve irritation.
PRECAUTIONS: DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including complete blood counts may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are taking this medicine. THIS MEDICINE MAY AFFECT CERTAIN LAB TEST RESULTS. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use this medicine. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using this medicine. THIS MEDICINE WILL ADD TO THE EFFECTS of central nervous system depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are central nervous system depressants. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any medicines containing nasal decongestants. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING THIS MEDICINE IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine. FOR WOMEN: THIS MEDICINE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE HARM to the human fetus. IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THIS MEDICINE IS EXCRETED in breast milk. IF YOU ARE OR WILL BE BREAST-FEEDING while you are using this medicine, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: 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 Zidovudine (e.g., Retrovir).
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of a colchicine overdose include nausea; vomiting; stomach pain; diarrhea; muscle weakness; burning in your throat, stomach, or skin; difficulty breathing; delirium; and seizures. An overdose of colchicine can result in death.
NOTES: Do not share this medication with others.
MISSED DOSE: 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: Store this medication at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) away from heat and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
