Overview: Colchicine tablets, capsules, and liquid are used to reduce complications from coronary artery disease, treat Familial Mediterranean Fever, and treat or prevent gout attacks. The most common side effects are diarrhea and muscle problems. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you notice tingling in your hands and feet or if you develop a fever.

Uses

What is colchicine used for?

Colchicine is commonly used for the following conditions.

Colchicine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does colchicine work (mechanism of action)?

Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell that play a big role in inflammation. They are involved in inflammation in gout, FMF, and coronary artery disease. Colchicine may block neutrophil activity to reduce or prevent inflammation in all of these conditions.

How is colchicine supplied (dosage forms)?

Brands and other names

  • Colcrys
  • Gloperba
  • Lodoco
  • Mitigare

Dosage forms and strengths

  • 0.6 mg oral capsules
  • 0.6 mg/5 mL oral solution
  • 0.3 mg oral tablets
  • 0.5 mg oral tablets
  • 0.6 mg oral tablets

How should I store colchicine?

Oral Tablet. Colchicine tablets should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. Protect the tablets from light. If your colchicine tablets come in a blister pack, keep them in this packaging until you are ready to take a dose.

Oral Capsule. Colchicine capsules should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. Protect the capsules from light and moisture. 

Oral Liquid. Colchicine liquid should be stored at room temperature, between 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C). It can be exposed to temperatures between 59 F to 86 F (15 C to 30 C) for shorter periods of time, such as when transporting it. Store in a cool, dry place. 

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of colchicine?

The most common side effects of colchicine are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain or cramping
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle problems (see below)

There may be other side effects of colchicine that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of colchicine?

While less common, the most serious side effects of colchicine are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Severe Allergic Reactions. Colchicine may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking colchicine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Blood Disorders. Colchicine can cause blood disorders, such as agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia, low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia), and low white blood cell levels (leukopenia). Stop taking colchicine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of blood disorders.

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale or yellowish skin
  • Pale or grayish color of lips, tongue, or palms
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Frequent infection
  • Unusual weakness or tiredness
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
  • Headache
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat

Muscle Problems. Colchicine can cause muscle problems, including muscle pain, weakness, and tenderness called myopathy. In some people, the muscle may break down (rhabdomyolysis), which can be serious and rarely lead to kidney damage and death. Stop taking colchicine and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis.

  • Unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness
  • Low energy levels or feeling easily tired, especially with activity
  • Dark-colored urine (pee)
  • Fever
  • Muscle cramps
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea or vomiting

Nerve Problems. Nerves are the fibers that carry sensations from your body to the brain. Damage to these nerves, called peripheral neuropathy, can happen in people who are taking colchicine. Stop taking colchicine and call your healthcare provider if you develop pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use colchicine?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take colchicine.

  • Colchicine
  • Gloperba
  • Lodoco
  • Mitigare
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific colchicine products they stock.

Drug Interactions. Colchicine should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines, especially if you have kidney or liver problems. Before taking colchicine, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. See the Interactions section for more details.

Kidney and Liver Problems. You should not take colchicine if your kidneys and liver are not working as well as they should be. If there is a concern about the health of your liver or kidneys, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if they are working well enough to take this medicine.

Blood Disorders. People who have any blood disorders, known as blood dyscrasias, should not take colchicine. Some examples of blood disorders include anemia, leukopenia (low white blood cell levels), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet levels). Tell your healthcare provider if you have any blood disorders.

What should I know about colchicine before using it?

Do not take colchicine unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed. Do not change your colchicine dose or stop taking colchicine (even if you are feeling better) without checking with your healthcare provider. Your symptoms may come back if you suddenly stop taking it.

Do not share colchicine with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Colchicine overdoses have led to death in adults and children. Do not take more colchicine than prescribed due to the risk for fatal overdose. Keep colchicine out of the reach of children.

If you are prescribed colchicine oral liquid, use an accurate measuring device to measure your dose. A household spoon is not an accurate measuring device and may cause you to take the wrong dose. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an appropriate measuring device.

Colchicine may make it difficult for you to get your partner pregnant. This difficulty seems to go away after you stop taking colchicine. Contact your healthcare provider if you have any concerns.

People who are 65 or older can be at greater risk for some side effects from colchicine. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risks if you are in this age group.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using colchicine?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if colchicine is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

  • Blood disorders
  • Kidney problems
  • Liver problems
  • Familial Mediterranean fever
  • Gout
  • Heart disease

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how colchicine could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take colchicine while you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Breastfeeding. Colchicine passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take colchicine while breastfeeding. If you breastfeed while taking colchicine, contact your healthcare provider if your baby has diarrhea. 

Interactions

Does colchicine interact with foods or drinks?

You should avoid foods and drinks that contain grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking colchicine. Grapefruit may increase the amount of colchicine in your body, which may increase your risk of serious side effects.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect colchicine. However, alcohol may increase your risk for gout attacks. Speak to your healthcare provider about the risk of your gout getting worse if you drink alcohol.

Does colchicine interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking colchicine.

  • A statin, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor and others) or rosuvastatin (Crestor), which is a medicine to lower cholesterol
  • A protease inhibitor, such as ritonavir (Norvir), atazanavir (Reyataz), or nelfinavir (Viracept), which is a medicine commonly used to treat HIV
  • A fibrate, such as gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibrate (Tricor), or fenofibric acid (Fibricor, Trilipix), which is a medicine for high cholesterol
  • Digoxin (Lanoxin), which is a medicine used to treat irregular heartbeat and some types of heart failure
  • A macrolide antibiotic, such as clarithromycin or erythromycin (Ery-Tab and others), which is a medicine used for bacterial infections
  • A calcium channel blocker, such as diltiazem (Cardizem CD and others) or verapamil (Verelan, Verelan PM), which is a medicine used for high blood pressure or other conditions
  • Ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura), fluconazole, or posaconazole (Noxafil), which is a medicine used for fungal infections
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune, and others), which is a medicine that suppresses your immune system
  • Nefazodone, which is a medicine used to treat depression
  • Ranolazine (Aspruzyo Sprinkle), which is a medicine used for chest pain
  • A birth control pill
  • Aprepitant (Emend), which is a medicine used for nausea and vomiting

Many other medicines may alter the blood levels of colchicine. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with colchicine. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does Colchicine interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much colchicine?

If you or someone else has used too much colchicine, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of colchicine?

If you miss a dose of colchicine and you are taking it to treat a gout attack, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not take double or extra doses. If you are also taking colchicine to prevent gout attacks, go back to your normal dosing schedule after 12 hours.

For all other uses, including if you are only taking colchicine to prevent gout, if you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.