Atorvastatin and colchicine interaction

[Maxspencer]

Had a really bad gout attack that started a couple of weeks ago and won’t subside. Used to take ibuprofen to tackle inflammation but since heart issues I’ve been told to avoid NSAIDS. So figured I’d suffer the pain and wait for the gout to run it’s course. Usually my attacks don’t last much more than a week. Not this one. Fed up (it truly is a miserable affliction) and having read that untreated I could be risking permanent joint damage, I finally decided to head for the out of hours doctor this morning and get some medication.

I was prescribed colchicine. Call me paranoid but I figured I should check for interactions with clopidogrel and Atorvastatin which I take daily. A couple of websites mentioned a possible interaction with Atorvastatin, one stating ‘possibly fatal’. I may well be being foolish but can’t bring myself to take the medication at present.

I wondered if any others have taken colchicine for gout along with statins? I’d love to know your thoughts/ideas etc... Thank you.

[Nathan53]

I would raise this with GP who may not have realised about possible interaction - you could ring a Pharmacist for advice in the meantime. Some antibiotics react with some statins for example and my Mother's GP advised her to stop statins for duration of anti biotic course. Get medical advice first though.

[Maxspencer in reply to Nathan53]

Thanks Nathan. I have a call into 111 asking the question and they said they would check with on duty physician and pharmacist. That was 3 hours ago! Won’t take anything before I hear. Can bear pain but just fed up with it. May have to wait until Monday and. GP appointment if I can get one.

Thanks again.

[Nathan53 in reply to Maxspencer]

Hope you get reply soon. Not sure where your your is - in case you have not tried these ideas I att a WebMD link ignore references to NSAIDS.

[Nathan53 in reply to Maxspencer]

Sorry Max forgot to att link before webmd.com/arthritis/gout-at...

[Maxspencer in reply to Nathan53]

Thanks Nathan. I had already trawled the net and seem this page. Webmd is one of my go to sites for drug interaction etc... FYI, I had a call back from the 111 pharmacist and took my first colchicine 500 micro gs this morning. So far so good. Thanks for your assistance.

[jos64]

Hi I may have been taking colchicine and Atorvastin for the past 11 weeks - I say may because I signed up to a blind trial which was looking at how colchicine might be beneficial in reducing inflammation following a heart attack, and I don't know if it was the real drug or a placebo. I have just stopped taking it because I am trying to find out which drug is causing me chronic stomach problems - but stopping hasn't made a difference so I expect I will go back on the colchicine again, and will try eliminating other drugs. I also read something that alarmed me about mixing these two drugs -I mentioned it to gp but her response was to order some blood tests ….so am waiting for results.

[Maxspencer in reply to jos64]

Thanks for your input, Jos. The 111 pharmacist said that the interaction would most likely be muscle pain related and so to look out for that. Good luck with the stomach problems. Has anyone recommended omeprazole or something similar?

[Healthyheart1]

Please contact a pharmacist before you start with it. There could be an interaction with the statin. Regards Sheena

[Maxspencer in reply to Healthyheart1]

Good advice, Healthyheart. Did do that and now taking it. I have to admit to being paranoid about any new pills these days.

[stevejb1810]

I don't take colchicine but I do take NSAIs as prescribed by my GP (I have both Naproxen and Diclofenac available to me). I was given Naproxen as an alternative to the Dicophenac to 'try'. I was warned about the cardiac concerns but my gout attacks are mercifully few and far between so I take these only infrequently (two or three doses usually sees it sorted) so it was considered very low risk for me. I would go see your GP and have the conversation.

[Maxspencer in reply to stevejb1810]

Thanks for that, Steve. I did take one dose of ibuprofen before bed to help get to sleep, based on low risk self-assessment. I’m sure the gout would have passed by now if I’d taken more doses in a row like you. Took my first colchicine today and no side effects so far. Fingers crossed the miserable gout will run for the hills soon.

[Stevegoutarthritis]

I like you take atorvastatin,have just had 3weeks of pain,unlike you I didn't research I just took colchine I had from a previous attack?(pre being prescribed station),I didn't have any side affects,I also didn't have any success with pain relief,I have tried all the usual pain killers anti inflammatory,colcohine, strong ibuprofen,diclafenic, even tramadol (all prescribed by my doctor),nothing has any affect,I just had pain in my left knee(could not bend) for 3 weeks (didn't have any let up in pain or lack of movement)I took colchine and co-codamol last Saturday the pain went away,on Wednesday I couldn't bend my right knee,I have just been on co-codamol since Wednesday,still no pain relief?I am in dispute that it is gout?I have been on allopurinol for 4 months,I still get this problem with my knees also my hands,elbows tops of my feet.hope this is of some use.

[Arthur23_]

Hi Max. I read this about Colcichine and Atorvastatin. The article did finish up by saying that OVERDOSING Colcichine could be fatal but I am taking both of these in tandem just now and have had no problem at all. Hope your gout gets better.

[Maxspencer]

Hi Arthur, that episode of gout was some years ago now. Funnily enough the gout did return with a vengeance soon after I finished the colchicine and for the return bout I took Naproxen (NSAID) as my GP gave told me, ‘I think you should be okay’. Like  stevejb1810 I find that the Naproxen acts so quickly (2 days and the pain has gone) that I wouldn’t consider using colchicine ever again. I do sometimes not take my clopidogrel when on Naproxen as I know the NSAIDs can add to the possibility of a bleed. All food for thought.