Colchicine

In Aotearoa New Zealand, colchicine is available as 0.5 mg tablets. 

• The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much colchicine to take, how often to take it and any special instructions.
• Never take more than the prescribed dose.
• Taking too much colchicine can cause serious side effects.

To treat a gout attack (flare)

Colchicine works best if you take it at the first sign (within 12 hours) of gout pain, redness and swelling.

• Take 2 tablets at the same time, followed by 1 tablet one hour later.
• Do not repeat this course within 3 days.
• Wait 12 hours before starting or continuing prophylactic colchicine (as described below).
• If you get nausea (feeling sick) or runny poos (diarrhoea), stop taking colchicine.

Colchicine is a useful and effective treatment for gout and is usually safe.

• Most people who take colchicine have no problems but extra care is needed when taking it.
• Colchicine is considered a high-risk medicine because it can cause serious side effects. There isn’t a big difference between a safe dose of colchicine and a harmful dose. People who are over 65 years of age are especially at risk.
• This means you must always take colchicine exactly as your doctor has told you to.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, colchicine is available as 0.5 mg tablets. 

• The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much colchicine to take, how often to take it and any special instructions.
• Never take more than the prescribed dose.
• Taking too much colchicine can cause serious side effects.

The medicines allopurinol or febuxostat limit the amount of uric acid your body makes. Raised uric acid levels in the blood causes gout.

It’s common to have flare-ups when you first start treatment with allopurinol or febuxostat so your doctor may recommend you take colchicine to reduce any gout attacks (flare-ups) happening until the urate level in your blood is lowered. 

The usual dose is:

• 1 tablet 2 times a day for 6 months.

If you get runny poos (diarrhoea) from taking colchicine your doctor may lower your dose to:

• 1 tablet once a day, OR 1 tablet on alternate days (every other day).  

It is generally recommended you keep taking colchicine for 3–6 months after your target serum urate level has been reached.

Colchicine is a useful and effective treatment for gout and is usually safe.

• Most people who take colchicine have no problems but extra care is needed when taking it.
• Colchicine is considered a high-risk medicine because it can cause serious side effects. There isn’t a big difference between a safe dose of colchicine and a harmful dose. People who are over 65 years of age are especially at risk.
• This means you must always take colchicine exactly as your doctor has told you to.

• Swallow your tablet whole with a full glass of water.
• Take it with food to reduce stomach upset. 

Colchicine can cause serious side effects, although not everyone gets them.

Here are some things to know when you're taking colchicine. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

• Alcohol: Avoid drinking alcohol as it can cause stomach problems. 
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice: Do not drink grapefruit juice as it increases the risk of side effects.
• Other medicines: Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all other medicines you are taking. Colchicine can be harmful when taken with some other medicines, such as antibiotics and medicines for pain relief.