Colchicine: Price, Dosage & Where to Buy

Colchicine is a medicine used mainly to prevent and treat gout flares, with an anti-inflammatory action rather than a general pain-relieving effect; its formal pharmacological class is not specified in the label. It requires a prescription in the United Kingdom, and treatment is individualised according to the condition, kidney and liver function, and other medicines being used.

Colchicine tablets are indicated for preventing gout flares and treating an acute gout flare when treatment begins at the first sign of the flare. Prevention and treatment are separate uses, with different labelled regimens. Long-term use is established for prevention, but the safety and effectiveness of repeated treatment courses for gout flares have not been evaluated.

Colchicine is also indicated for familial Mediterranean fever in adults and children aged four years or older. It is not a general painkiller and should not be used for pain from other causes. Colchicine tablets are not recommended for preventing or treating gout flares in children.

Colchicine reduces inflammation by interfering with tiny structures inside cells called microtubules. These structures help cells move and carry out activities involved in the inflammatory response. By disrupting this process, colchicine limits the activity and movement of certain white blood cells that contribute to inflammation.

This helps explain its role in controlling gout flares and inflammation associated with familial Mediterranean fever. Its effect is directed at inflammation rather than general pain relief, so it is not a painkiller for unrelated causes of pain.

The label lists oral capsules containing 0.6 mg, oral solution containing 0.6 mg/5 mL, tablets containing 0.5 mg or 0.6 mg, and film-coated tablets containing 0.6 mg. The label lists 0.6 mg once or twice daily for gout flare prevention in adults and adolescents older than 16 years, with a maximum of 1.2 mg/day. The label lists 1.2 mg at the first sign of a gout flare followed by 0.6 mg one hour later, with a maximum of 1.8 mg over a 1-hour period.

The label lists 1.2 mg to 2.4 mg daily for adults with familial Mediterranean fever. Regimens are individualised according to age, kidney function, liver function and interacting medicines. The label describes age-dependent regimens for children with familial Mediterranean fever and additional adjustments for kidney impairment and drug interactions.

Tablets may be administered regardless of meals. Higher doses have not been found more effective for treating gout flares.

Advice about a missed dose depends on whether colchicine is prescribed regularly for prevention or familial Mediterranean fever, or as a short course for a gout flare. Do not double a dose to make up for a missed dose. Check the dispensing instructions and ask a pharmacist if the timing of the next dose is unclear.

Published human data over several decades have not identified drug-associated risks of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes, although the evidence has limitations. Colchicine crosses the placenta, and published animal studies indicate developmental toxicity. Colchicine is present in breast milk.

Published literature has not reported adverse events in breastfed infants, but there are no data on its effects on milk production. Decisions about breastfeeding should consider the mother's clinical need for treatment and potential effects on the child.

The label specifies storage at 20° to 25°C, protected from light, in a tight, light-resistant container. Keep the medicine out of the reach of children.