Drug
Colchicine
Pronounced
"KOL-chi-seen"
Uses
Colchicine is used by people with heart disease or people who have multiple risk factors for heart disease to help reduce the risk of getting serious related heart and blood vessel problems (such as stroke, heart attack). It is thought to work by decreasing inflammation in the arteries.
Colchicine is not a pain medication and should not be taken to relieve pain.
Other Uses
This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.
Colchicine is also available in other brands and other strengths for gout, pain caused by an inherited disease (familial Mediterranean fever), or pericarditis. Do not take this medication with any other product that contains colchicine.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking colchicine and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
To reduce the risk of serious heart disease, take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily.
If you are using the extended-release tablets, swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush or chew the tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. Serious side effects may occur even at usual prescribed doses.
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.