Colchicine is used for the treatment and prevention of gout flares. Learn how to use the medication, its common side effects, special precautions to watch out for, and more.
Colchicine is used for the treatment and prevention of gout flares.
Gout is a condition that can cause pain and swelling in the joints. Gout happens when there is too much uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a chemical that is produced when the body breaks down certain foods.
If you are told by your doctor to take colchicine regularly and have forgotten to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
Some rare but serious side effects of this medicine include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
Avoid taking grapefruit or grapefruit juice while you are taking Colchicine as grapefruit may interact with Colchicine and increase the risk of side-effects.
Certain cholesterol-lowering, antibiotics, anti-viral and hepatitis medications may interact with Colchicine and increase the risk of side-effects.
Check with your healthcare professionals if you are taking any of the above medication.
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on March 2025
This article was last reviewed on Monday, March 24, 2025