COLCHICINE

Brand & Generic Names

ColBenemid

Col-Probenecid

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Antigout

Uses

• Relieves joint pain, inflammation, swelling of gout.
• Also used for familial Mediterranean fever, dermatitis herpetiformis, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, amyloidosis, Paget's disease of bone.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation.

When to take:
As prescribed. Stop taking when pain stops or at first sign of digestive upset. Wait at least 3 days between treatments.
Don't take more than 8 doses.

If you forget a dose:
Don't double next dose. Consult doctor.

What drug does:
Decreases acidity of joint tissues and prevents deposits of uric-acid crystals.

Time lapse before drug works:
12 to 48 hours.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Bloody urine, diarrhea, burning feeling in stomach, muscle weakness, fever, shortness of breath, stupor, convulsions, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

In case of overdose, see Overdose section.

Common:

Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.

Infrequent:

• Rash, itch, unusual bruising, blood in urine.
• Numbness, tingling, pain or weakness in hands or feet; unusual tiredness or weakness; fever; hair loss; appetite loss.

Rare:

Jaundice, aplastic anemia (low red blood cell count), agranulocytosis (low white blood cell count).

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:
You are allergic to colchicine.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had peptic ulcers or ulcerative colitis.
• If you have heart, liver or kidney disease.
• If you will have surgery within 2 months, including dental surgery, requiring general or spinal anesthesia.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons. Colchicine has a narrow margin of safety for people in this age group.

Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.

Breast-feeding:
No problems expected, but consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• Permanent hair loss.
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit).

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:

• May be unnecessary to finish medicine. Follow doctor's instructions.
• Stop taking if digestive upsets occur before symptoms are relieved.

Others:

• Limit each course of treatment to 8 mg. Don't exceed 3 mg. per 24 hours.
• May cause decreased sperm production in males.
• May interfere with the accuracy of some medical tests.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Anticoagulants*	Increased anticoagulant effect.
Blood dyscrasia-	Increased bone marrow depressant
causing medications*	effect.
Bone marrow	Increased bone marrow depressant
depressants*, other	effect.
Clozapine	Toxic effect on bone marrow.
Diuretics*	Decreased antigout effect of
	colchicine.
Levamisole	Increased risk of bone marrow
	depression.
Phenylbutazone	Increased chance of ulcers in
	gastrointestinal tract.
Thioguanine	May need increased dosage of
	colchicine.
Tiopronin	Increased risk of toxicity to bone
	marrow.
Vitamin B-12	Decreased absorption of vitamin
	B-12.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Increased risk of gastrointestinal
	toxicity.
Herbal teas.	Increased colchicine effect. Avoid.
Cocaine:	Overstimulation. Avoid.
Foods:	No proven problems.
Marijuana:	Decreased colchicine effect.
Tobacco:	No proven problems.