Colchicine

What it is

Colchicine is a medicine used to treat certain types of pain and swelling. It requires a prescription in India.

What it is used for

Colchicine is used to treat acute gout, which is a type of arthritis that causes severe pain and swelling in the joints. It is also used to prevent gout attacks during the initial therapy with allopurinol and to treat Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), a condition that causes recurring episodes of fever and inflammation.

• Acute gout
• Prophylaxis during initial therapy with allopurinol
• Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)

How it works

Colchicine works by stopping the natural processes that cause swelling and other symptoms of gout and FMF. It does this by interfering with the movement of certain cells in the body that are involved in the inflammatory response.

How it is sold in India

In India Colchicine comes as tablets.

Common side effects

Most people who take colchicine experience some side effects, which can include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In some cases, excessive doses can lead to severe diarrhoea, gastrointestinal haemorrhage, rash, renal and hepatic damage, peripheral neuritis, myopathy, alopecia, and blood disorders. These serious side effects are rare.

Who should not take it

Our sources do not cover this.

Brand names

7 medicines sold in India contain Colchicine.

Brands sold in India include Zycolchin, Coljoy, Colchiget, Goutnil. Whichever name is on the strip, the medicine inside is the one described on this page.

Where this comes from

• National Formulary of India 2011 (Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) -- Colchicine
• MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM): Colchicine
• FDA drug label (US National Library of Medicine, DailyMed)

We do not publish doses. How much to take depends on your age, weight and other conditions — ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This page is general information, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for seeing a doctor. It carries no dosage and no prices.