[Coal-CHI-seen] http:// .com Colchicine Colcrys® your rheumatology resource
How to use this medication Side effects & important facts When should I call my doctor
What is it Diarrhea Please call if you need to stop
Colchicine is a medication used to prevent The most common side effect of colchicine is • If you feel sick and want to stop and treat attacks of gout. It is also used diarrhea. This can get better by lowering the • If you are concerned about any side effects to treat other conditions such as Familal dose. • If you want to or have already stopped the medicine Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and Behcet’s Disease. Other reasons to call your doctor: Nausea & vomiting Take it once to twice a day Colchicine can upset the stomach causing This medicine is taken once or twice a day. nausea and vomiting. Your doctor will tell you how often to take Severe New muscle Pregnant your colchicine. diarrhea pain or or Planning Muscles weakness Pregnancy
Tablets When used for long periods of time, colchicine can affect the muscles. Let your doctor know It comes in 0.6 mg tablets. Your doctor will if you have muscle pain or weakness while Other important information tell you how many tablets to take. taking colchicine.
Stopping colchicine Pregnancy & breastfeeding You can simply stop taking colchicine. Please What you need to do Colchicine has not been studied in pregnancy. call your doctor if you stop the medication. Let your doctor know if you are planning to get pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Blood tests Copyright 2011 Rheuminfo Inc. (www.RheumInfo.com) Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade: 7.3 Your doctor may order blood tests to make sure colchicine isn’t affecting your blood Drug interactions counts. This is rare. Some medicines are not safe to take while taking colchicine. Examples are: clarithromycin, cyclosporine, itraconazole, Watch how much alcohol you drink ketoconazole, telithromycin, nefazodone, and Drinking alcohol can flare gout. It is best to HIV protease inhibitors. Always check with avoid alcohol completely. your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medication.