Colchicine instructions

Brand Name: Colchicine

Generic Name: Colchicine

The following product information is not a substitute for physician's or manufacturer's instructions.

Colchicine Medical Uses:
Colchicine is used to treat attacks of gout. This drug will not prevent the progression of this disease. Colchicine relieves swelling and pain caused by attacks of gout or gouty arthritis. It may also be taken regularly to prevent gout or gouty arthritis attacks.

How to Take Colchicine:
Colchicine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Take colchicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. If you are taking colchicine to relieve gout attack symptoms, start taking it at the first sign of pain. Relief usually begins within 12 hours, and symptoms disappear within 48-72 hours. This medicine will not be fully effective if you do not take it as soon as you feel pain.

Colchicine Possible Side Effects:
Like all medicines, Colchicine may cause unwanted effects (side effects) in some people.

Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• diarrhea
• loss of appetite

In general, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the first signs of too much colchicine. Stop taking colchicine when you experience these side effects.

The following effects are rare, but you should contact your doctor immediately if any of them happen to you:

• difficulty breathing
• closing of your throat
• swelling of your lips, tongue, or face
• rash
• fever
• blood in the urine or stool
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• tiredness or weakness

You should also tell your doctor if you experience any unwanted effects which are not mentioned above.

Colchicine Precautions:
Before taking Colchicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist:

• if you are allergic to colchicine or any other drugs
• what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking
• if you have or have ever had stomach or intestinal disease, blood disorder, kidney disease, liver disease, alcohol abuse problem, or heart problems.
• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking colchicine, call your doctor.

It is best to avoid alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can increase the chance of getting stomach problems. It can also increase uric acid concentrations in the blood, which makes a gouty attack more likely.

Drug Interactions:

Colchicine may interact with the following drugs:

• alcohol
• amphotericin B by injection
• antiinflammatory drugs (e.g ibuprofen)
• antineoplastics
• antithyroid agents
• azathioprine (e.g., Imuran)
• chloramphenicol (e.g., Chloromycetin)
• clarithromycin
• cyclophosphamide (e.g., Cytoxan)
• erythromycin
• flucytosine (e.g., Ancobon)
• ganciclovir (e.g., Cytovene)
• interferon
• mercaptopurine (e.g., Purinethol)
• methotrexate
• phenylbutazone (e.g., Butazolidin)
• plicamycin (e.g., Mithracin)
• zidovudine (e.g., Retrovir)

Missed Dose:
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Related information:
Buy Colchicine without prescription