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What is the most important information I should know about
colchicine?
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Notify your doctor if you experience a skin rash; a sore throat; a
fever; unusual bleeding, bruising, tiredness, or weakness; or numbness
or tingling. These symptoms could be early signs of a serious side
effect. |
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If you are taking colchicine to treat an acute attack of gout,
therapy should be stopped as soon as the pain is relieved, when the
maximum amount of medicine has been taken, or at the first sign of
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. |
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The exact way that colchicine works is unknown. It appears to alter
your body's response to deposited uric acid crystals. This leads to less
swelling and less pain. |
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Colchicine is used to treat attacks of gout. |
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Colchicine will not prevent the progression of this disease. It is
useful only in decreasing the incidence of attacks and in relieving pain
and discomfort. |
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Colchicine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in
this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
colchicine?
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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you |
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have ever had an allergic reaction to colchicine, |
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have kidney disease or poorly functioning kidneys, |
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have an ulcer in your stomach or another type of stomach disease, |
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have blood problems, or |
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are elderly or debilitated. |
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You may not be able to take colchicine, or you may require a lower
dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the
conditions listed above. |
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Colchicine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is
not known whether colchicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this
medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. |
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It is not known whether colchicine will harm a nursing infant. Do
not take colchicine without first talking to your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take colchicine?
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Take colchicine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to
explain them to you. |
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Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. |
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To treat an attack, colchicine may be taken up to once every hour
until the pain is relieved, until the maximum amount of medicine has
been taken, or until nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea occurs. To prevent an
attack from occurring, colchicine may be taken every day or several days
a week. Follow your doctor's instructions. |
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Never take more medicine than is prescribed to treat an acute gout
attack. |
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Store colchicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only
your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this
medication. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention. |
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Symptoms of a colchicine overdose include nausea; vomiting; stomach
pain; diarrhea; muscle weakness; burning in your throat, stomach, or
skin; difficulty breathing; delirium; and seizures. An overdose of
colchicine can result in death. |
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What should I avoid while taking colchicine?
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Follow your doctor's recommendations about diet. |
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What are the possible side effects of colchicine?
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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop
taking colchicine and seek emergency medical attention: |
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an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat;
swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); |
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unusual bleeding or bruising; |
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tiredness or weakness; or |
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In general, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the first signs of
too much colchicine. Stop taking colchicine when you experience these
side effects. If these side effects are severe or if they do not resolve,
contact your doctor. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any reaction that seems unusual or that is especially
bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect colchicine?
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Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines that you are
taking so that your therapy can be monitored for interactions. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has more information about colchicine written for
health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.06. Revision date: 7/
29/ 04. |
