Drug/Lab interactions:

Decreased thrombocyte values may be obtained.

Colchicine may cause false-positive results when testing urine for RBC or haemoglobin.

Gout

Bone marrow depression with aplastic anemia,

Agranulocytosis or thrmbocytopenia (long term therapy),

Peripheral neuritis, Purpura, myopathy, Loss of hair,

Reversible azoospermia, Dermatoses,

Hypersensitivity,

Vomiting, diarrhoea,

Abdominal pain, Nausea.

Hypersens.

Serious GI, renal, hepatic, or cardiac disorders, blood dyscrasias.

Special precautions:

GI effects- Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and nausea may occur, especially with maximun doses. This may be more troublesome in presence of peptic ulcer or spastic colon. Discontinue use when these symptoms occur.

Colchicine induces reversible maladsorption of vitamin B12 apparently by altering the functions of ileal mucosa.

Perform periodic blood counts in patients receiving long-term therapy.

Indications:

Gout

Dosage:

Usual initial dose- 1 to O 1.2mg following with 0.5 to 1.2mg Every 1 or 2 hours until pain is relieved.

Total amount required for relieving pain is normally 4 to 8mg.

Wait for 3 days before initiating a second course.

1. Notify physician if skin rash, sore throat, fever, unusual bleeding, briusing, tiredness, weakness, numbness, or tingling occurs.

2. Discontinue medication as soon as gout pain is relieved or at the first sign of nausea, vomting, stomach pain or diarrhea. If symptoms persist, notify physician.

3. Allergies- Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic raections to colchicine or other related medicines. Also tell your doctor if youn are allergic to any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

4. Pregnancy- treatment with colchicine does not increase and may actually decrease occurance of problems in women. Colchicine has caused birth defects and other problems innanimal studies

5. Breast feeding- mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should dicuss this with their doctor.

6. Children- not reported to cause different side effects or problems in children than adults

8. Elderly- colchicine may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

9. Other medicines- tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines- Amphotericin B by injection or Antineoplastics or Antithyroid agents or Azathioprine or Chlorambucil or Chloramphenicol or Colchicine or Cyclophosphamide or Flucytosine or Ganciclovir or Interferon or Mercaptopurine or Methotrexate or Phenylbutazone or Plicamycin or Zidovudine - chance of serious side effects caused by a decrease in the numbers of certain blood cells may be increased

10. Other medical problems- tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems- Alcohol abuse or Intestinal disease or Stomach ulcer or other stomach problems- chances of stomach upset may be increased , Also colchicine can make some kinds of stoomach or intestinal problem worse.

  11. Missed dose- If you miss a dose of this medicine take it as soon as possible. However if it is almost time for your next dose go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Pharmacology:

The exact mechanism of action is not etablished. It is involved in leucocyte migration; reduction of lactic acid production by leucocytes which results in a decreased deposition of uric acid; interference with kinin formation; reduction in phagocytes with inflammatory response abatement

Pharmacokinetics:

Colchine is rapidly absorbed after oral administration; peak plasma levels occur in 0.5 to 2 hours. Excretion occurs primarily by biliary and renal routes; 10 to 20% is eliminated unchanged in urine.

Take with food

Pregnancy:

Colchicine can cause fatal harm when administered to pregnant women. Use only when needed.

Lactation:

Excercise caution while administering colchicine to a nusing woman.

Children;

Safety for use in children has not been established