Experiences with

Colchicine

About colchicine

Colchicine is a medicine for treating inflammation and pain.

It can be used to:

  • treat flare-ups (attacks) of gout
  • prevent increased flare-ups of gout when you first start on a medicine like allopurinol – taken to manage your condition long term
  • prevent flare-ups of symptoms of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) – an inherited inflammatory condition

Colchicine is available on prescription. It comes as tablets.

Key facts

  • It's important to stick to your prescribed dose. Taking even a little bit more can be very serious.
  • Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking colchicine.
  • Some people find it's gentler on their stomach if they take their medicine with or after food.
  • Colchicine is not usually recommended in pregnancy or when breastfeeding.

Who can and can't take colchicine

Colchicine can be taken by most adults aged 18 and over.

It can sometimes be prescribed for children by a specialist doctor.

Colchicine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

  • have ever had an allergic reaction to colchicine or any other medicines
  • have a severe blood disorder (such as blood dyscrasia, low amounts of white or red blood cells, a low blood platelet count or problems with your bone marrow function)
  • have severe kidney or liver problems
  • have problems with your heart or digestive system
  • are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are trying for a baby

Women who could become pregnant will usually only be prescribed colchicine if they are using suitable contraception.

How and when to take it

Follow your doctor's instructions about how many tablets to take, and how many times a day.

It's important to stick to your prescribed dose. This is because there is only a small difference between a correct dose and an overdose.

Colchicine comes as 500 microgram tablets. The word microgram is sometimes written with the Greek symbol μ followed by the letter g (μg). A microgram is 1,000 times smaller than a milligram (mg).

If you have kidney or liver disease, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose. You will also have regular blood and urine tests.

Swallow your tablet whole, with a glass of water.

How much will I take?

For gout

The usual dose is 1 tablet (500 micrograms), taken 2 to 4 times a day.

You'll usually take colchicine for just a few days. Your doctor will tell you how long to take it for.

For familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)

Doses can vary between 1 and 4 tablets (500 micrograms to 2mg), taken once a day.

Your doctor will probably recommend taking this medicine long-term.

What if I forget to take it?

If you forget to take your colchicine, take it as soon as you remember. Unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In which case, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time.

Never have 2 doses at the same time. Never have an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicines.

What if I take too much?

Taking too many colchicine tablets can be very dangerous. It could be fatal.

Symptoms of taking too much colchicine can include:

  • feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
  • stomach ache
  • bloody diarrhoea
  • signs of low blood pressure (such as feeling dizzy or lightheaded)

Side effects

Like all medicines, colchicine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

However, even mild side effects can be very serious.

If you have any side effects when taking colchicine, stop taking the medicine and get medical help straight away.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic (anaphylaxis) to colchicine.

These are not all the side effects of colchicine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Colchicine is not usually recommended in pregnancy.

Women who could become pregnant will usually only be prescribed colchicine if they are using a suitable contraception.

If you become pregnant while taking colchicine for gout or familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), contact your doctor.

Your doctor will be able to explain the risks and the benefits, and will help you decide what's best for you and your baby.

Colchicine and breastfeeding

Colchicine is not usually recommended while you're breastfeeding.

If you have gout, your doctor may recommend a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like ibuprofen instead.

For FMF, a doctor will only prescribe colchicine while you're breastfeeding if the benefits outweigh the risks.

If your baby is not feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy or is vomiting or has diarrhoea, talk to a health visitor or doctor.

Cautions with other medicines

Certain medicines can interfere with the way colchicine works. Some can make you more likely to get serious or life-threatening side effects.

Speak to your doctor before starting on colchicine if you take:

  • medicines that can affect your kidneys, your liver or your blood (check with your doctor if you're not sure)
  • clarithromycin or erythromycin (antibiotics used to treat infections)
  • ritonavir or atazanavir (antiviral medicines used to treat HIV infection)
  • ciclosporin (medicines for psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and after an organ transplant)
  • ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole (antifungal medicines)
  • verapamil or diltiazem (medicines for the heart)
  • disulfram (medicine used to treat alcohol dependence)

Your doctor may need to adjust your dose if you are taking any of these medicines.

Mixing colchicine with herbal remedies and supplements

There's very little information about taking herbal medicines and supplements with colchicine.

Important

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Common questions

HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence

256 public posts

Pericarditis / Colchicine

I've been prescribed Colchicine which has eliminated the pain. However, I also have a consultant appointment next week, and an echo scan a little later. I'm hoping the condition will settle down in time. If it doesn't I'll continue to take advice, and live with it. Still - fingers crossed...
in AF Association

Colchicine and Stools

Does colchicine cause bloody stools? I saw my GP yesterday and he said I have an infection and I think my body isn't fighting it. Does anyone have experience with this in in so much pain I can't stand it
in Behçet's UK

Colchicine and SARS-CoV-2: Management of the hyperinflammatory state

Colchicine and SARS-CoV-2: Management of the hyperinflammatory state, Feb 2021. "Colchicine is a pharmacological agent that has been used for a long time and with different therapeutic indications.
Shell567Sweet's Syndrome UK
in Sweet's Syndrome UK
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EXISTING APPROVED CHEAP DRUG, CLINICAL TRIAL shows promising help against COVID

__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar Colchicine https://www.drugs.com/mtm/colchicine.html
in AF Association

Newly Diagnosed

Currently on Ibuprofen and just started colchicine. Palpitations are my major worrying symptoms and keep me up at night. Anyone else going through this?
in British Heart Foundation

Quebec researchers say they have found an effective drug to fight COVID-19.

Colchicine is the first "effective oral drug to treat out-of-hospital patients." "To be able to offer this, from Quebec, and for the planet, we are very happy," said Tardif.
in British Lung Foundation

Vaccine reaction w BD & Food Sensitivities

(I'm 50, female w BD showing up as mostly inflammation arthritis and mouth sores that are relatively controlled by Colchicine.)
in Behçet's UK

Qualify for next Vaccine Phase or Not? (Confused) 🙃

I take Colchicine as treatment.
in Behçet's UK

Pericarditis recovery period

I still have to continue to take colchicine fir 2 months and see my cardiologist in June or July . Would this mean I’m still not fully recovered from pericarditis
in British Heart Foundation

Dressler’s syndrome, a form of pericarditis Update to previous post

Update...After yet another visit to A&E last week where Colchicine was increased to x3 daily ive finally got my post-op review this morning , it’s now 9 weeks since i had bypass surgery, i can’t wait to find out the plan of action from the cardiologist because as of yet the Colchicine has still failed
in British Heart Foundation

Post Ablation pain

I have been taking Colchicine, Codiene and Paracetamol. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this and how long it lasted for. It doesn't seem to be improving at all. I also experienced a TIA 2 days later which hopefully I am all over now. I still seem to have jelly legs. Thank you
in British Heart Foundation

Confused

I take colchicine and dapson for this condition and also warfarin for a replaced aortic valve. Please can someone tell me if it is safe to take the Covid vaccine. I will be getting the Astra Zeneca one in India.
in Vasculitis UK

Pericarditis

On colchicine. Just when I thought it was gone, with a week free of all symptoms, it suddenly returned with the shortness of breath and palpitations. This has now happened on two occasions. Anyone else gone through this up and down recovery?
in British Heart Foundation

Levothyroxine intolerant?

Oral steroids(pred) prescribed as well as colchicine, Accrete D3, omaprezol, general vitamin tablet. Im on Warfarin as had 2 DVTs.
in Thyroid UK

The UK RECOVERY Trial closes Recruitment to the Convalescent Plasma treatment arm for patients hospitalised with COVID-19

Recruitment to all other treatment arms – tocilizumab, aspirin, colchicine, and Regeneron’s antibody cocktail – continues as planned.
Jm954Administrator
in CLL Support

Pericarditis - Am I getting better or is this developing into something worse

I was initially given colchicine for 2 weeks and told after to take ibuprofen 600mg 3 times a day. It seemed to help at first but now I’m in a position where the chest pain isn’t that bad, it’s there one day and not there another but it’s not too painful anymore.
in British Heart Foundation

GOUT & CLL

Can anyone reassure me that colchicine tablets (for gout attacks) are not dangerous to CLL patients?
in Men's Health Forum

Is my high dose of colchicine safe?

I’m currently taking 2mg of colchicine a day for my pericarditis but from what I’ve read online is that it can really toxic and dangerous to consume a high dosage of. Would anyone help me?
in Men's Health Forum

Having pericarditis symptoms- anyone else been down this road?

Already on Colchicine for a week. Had pleural effusion drain last week Short course of doxycycline Thurs - Sunday Neck/shoulder left chest pain since Tuesday Temp now spiking to 38 Very tired Pulse 110 ....
in British Heart Foundation

Myocarditis questions

Had some chest and back pain and with colchicine, and ibuprofen it resolved totally within 2-3 weeks. Colchicine has to be taken til September to help lower chance of a pericarditis relapse. Myocarditis - My EF on an MRI was 46%. I was prescribed bisoprolol and ramipril.
in British Heart Foundation
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