Colchicine and/or Equivalents

Colchicine

Colchicine Description

Colchicine Tablets, USP is the generic name of an anti-inflammatory medicine that is used to treat several conditions in patients. It is manufactured by many companies across Canada and the generic form is sold by pharmacists over the counter. Colchicine Tablets are derived from an alkaloid produced by the plant Colchicum autumnale. It is available as a tablet with two strengths of 0.5mg and 0.6mg. The tablet also contains inactive ingredients like corn starch, calcium carbonate, lactose, stearic acid, talc etc.

Conditions Treated by Colchicine

Since August 2009, the FDA has approved Colchicine as a mono-drug treatment for Mediterranean fever, which is a hereditary disorder indicated by high fever and accompanying abdominal pain. Patients suffering from acute conditions of gout which typically affects one particular joint can also get sufficient relief by using Colchicine. Colchicine is also prescribed by healthcare providers as a long-term treatment to treat inflammation in Behcet’s disease wherin patients suffer from painful ulers in the mouth, genitals and eyes. As a non-prescription drug, Colchicine is used to treat back pain and severe constipation related to irritable bowel syndrome in case of women.

Colchicine Dosage Information

a.) Typical dosage recommendations

Generic Colchicine tablets are taken orally. To provide relief from pain in case of an initial attack of acute gouty arthritis, 1mg to 1.2mg of the tablet is recommended. This means that if you are suspecting the onset of a severe attack, you have to take either two 0.5mg tablets or two 0.6mg tablets followed by one tablet of either strength to be taken every hour. You can also take two tablets of either stength at an interval of two hours till you get sufficient relief. Once the pain is alleviated, you can take a 0.5mg or 0.6mg tablet every two or three hours after consulting your pharmacist. Stop taking Colchicine tablets immediately with the onset of diarrhea or other gastrointestinal disorders. Typically, 4mg to 8mg of Colchicine is required to repel a gouty attack and provide complete relief to the patient. Regular intake of Cholchicine will enable you to reach your own maximum dosage beyond which diarrhea may ensue. In case of familial Mediterranean fever in adults, 1.2mg to 2.4mg of Colchicine is administered orally divided into one or two doses. This can be increased in doses of 0.3mg per day depending on the patient’s tolerance level and the requirement of the drug in treating the gout. For pediatric patients suffering from this fever, it is beneficial to orally administer 0.3mg to 1.8mg of the molecule daily if the child is between four to six years old. In case of children aged between six to twelve years, the dose must be increased to 0.9mg to 1.8mg per day. Older children may require a daily dose of 1.2mg to 2.4mg of Colchicine.

b.) Missing a dose

In case you have missed a particular dose of Colchicine, you can take the skipped dose whenever you remember but never along with another dose.

c.) Overdosing

Ingesting an overdose of Colchicine may lead to the onset of toxicity in your body after several hours of taking the medicine. Rush to your nearest healthcare center if you have accidentally overdosed as the resultant toxicity may cause bloody diarrhea, burning sensation in the stomach or throat, extensive damage to your blood vessels, muscular weakness, renal impairment and even the onset of paralysis, delirium or death.

Colchicine Warnings

Since Colchicine is derived from a potentially toxic natural substance, it is best to know everything about this medicine before commencing your treatment. Consult with your medical caregiver to know thoroughly the associated risks and benefits of treating your condition with Colchicine. Treatment with Colchicine is absolutely not recommended in patients suffering from renal failure which is in an advanced stage. Be sure to inform your doctor if you are undergoing regular dialysis as this process is not effective in removing the unabsorbed Colchicine from your body which is done by the kidneys during normal excretion. Undergoing treatment with Colchicine while continuing dialysis, will result in an abnormal concentration of the molecule in your body. This can create severe toxicity inside the body and cause extensive damage to the nervous system. Colchicines toxicity is also enhanced by the associated use of drugs which lower your cholesterol level. If you are undergoing treatment for high cholesterol and taking prescription drugs like statins or fibrates, the two separate medicines may react with each other leading to irreversible damage to your nerves and muscles. Such a condition will impair your movements and normal speech and can even pomote the onset of dementia. There have been reports of respiratory and cardiac failure leading to death in case of Colchicine interaction with cholesterol lowering medicines. Since Colchicine tablets contain several inactive ingredient like calcium carbonate, lactose or stearic acid, always tell your pharmacist if you are allergic to any of these before commencing your treatment. Always mention past or present history of severe ailments like renal or hepatic impairments; especially cirrhosis. Discuss freely your alcohol habits. Your medical caregiver may advise you to reduce your daily intake of alcohol since it is known to reduce the efficacy of Colchicine. Provide details of all prescription and non-prescription drugs you are taking presently, including nutritional supplements or herbal preparations as Colchicine can affect the absorption of certain food and vitamins in your body for example, Vitamin B12. Colchicine may lead to peripheral neuropathy which will restrict the normal movement of your hands and feet. Inform your doctor immediately if you feel a tingling sensation and numbness in your feet or hands so that he can assess the situation and stop treatment if required. Always maintain an interval of three days between consecutive Colchicine doses so that there is less risk of the molecule accumulating in your body leading to a toxic condition.

Colchicine Side Effects

Colchicine can exhibit reactions with other medicines you are taking, leading to harmful toxic conditions inside your body. Common side effects include the following:

• Neutropenia, which is an abnormally low number of neutrophils in your blood
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Hair loss
• Anemia resulting from bone marrow damage

A major side effect is peripheral neuropathy which is a condition in which the nerves in your hand and feet get damaged causing a tingling sensation and resulting in limited freedom in movement. To prevent toxicity from setting in, stop taking the medicine and consult your doctor immediately if you experience nausea and vomiting along with severe diarrhea.

Colchicine Drug Interactions

Always tell your doctor if you plan to conceive, expecting a child or nursing your baby as they will then assess the benefit with the risks and decide if Colchicine is suitable for you. Colchicine may interact with other prescription or non prescription drugs which you are taking presently, so provide all your past and present medical history to your pharmacist. If you are starting a new treatment for another disease, always inform your doctor that you are undergoing a treatment with Colchicine.

If you have any questions about buying discount Colchicine online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Colchicine and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information