Learn About Colchicine

Clearly, this medication is a gout treatment. It's going to give you immediate gout pain relief. That said, you have other options for gout medicine! Gout supplements and herbal medicine for uric acid also help out. With this in mind, ladies, be sure to understand how colchicine tablets to be certain it's the best treatment for gout for you!

How It Works

Colchicine works by getting rid of inflammation in your body. This medication also changes how your body handles uric acid! Ladies, it binds to proteins called tubulins and blocks them. This is what stops the assembly of microtubules, which maintain the shape of cells. Ultimately, this keeps cell division and the secretion of both chemokines and cytokines in check! Colchicine also prevents neutrophils from moving in certain ways. The result is a direct impact on the uric acid crystals connected to gout. All of these factors are what help this medication work very well for you when you're taking it regularly.

Uses

Clearly, this is a medication for gout. Ladies, it's approved for handling gout attacks and their symptoms while they're happening. Some brands will help you prevent future gout attacks too! This medication also works on familial Mediterranean fever. It is going to handle the chest, abdominal, and joint pain it causes. Ladies, you will also find this medication used for Behcet's syndrome. It reduces the swelling, redness, and pain from this condition!

Of course, this one also has 'off-label' uses! Examples include pseudogout, pericarditis, and Paget's disease. It even works on coronary artery disease sometimes. Finally, it will prevent post-pericardial syndrome!

Side Effects

Colchicine has side effects, just like any other medication! Ladies, the most common examples are vomiting, nausea, pain in your abdomen, and diarrhea. Though they're common, you still have to call your doctor when they happen. They have to be informed! Less common side effects are chills, fever, blood in your pee, headaches, and blood in your stool. Ladies, another less common one to watch for if trouble breathing when you're exercising!

Skin side effects include hives, peeling, redness, and a mild burning sensation. Rare side effects also exist. You will encounter a sore throat, numb fingers or toes, and even sores in your mouth or on your lips! Ladies, always call your doctor right away if your tongue, palms, or lips turn gray or pale.

Precautions

Be cautious with this medication. Ladies, review your health history with your doctor first! They need to make sure it's safe for you to take. Things that make it unsafe include liver disease, heart problems, and kidney disease. You also can't take colchicine when you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Ladies, you have to use contraception when you're taking this medication! Blood issues also mean you can't take colchicine most of the time. These problems include things like low platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Bone marrow problems also make it unsuitable! You're already more likely to bruise on this medication, so these factors increase that risk even more. Your infection risk is also a lot higher with these issues on this medication.

Be ready for regular blood tests when you're taking this medication. You will also have to avoid sick people when you have some side effects, like low platelets! Ladies, stop playing contact sports. Don't eat or drink anything with grapefruit. This fruit makes your body have a higher concentration of colchicine. That's going to increase your side effects. You can take this medication with food to avoid stomach discomfort. With that in mind, though, you can take it without food!

Medication Interactions

Colchicine has over 200 medication interactions. The first thing you need to do, ladies, is list your current medications. Don't forget OTC drugs and supplements too! Your doctor needs this list so they can make sure you avoid all colchicine interactions. Your pharmacist reviews this list as well. Ladies, don't stop taking any medications or start new ones when you're on colchicine. Talk to your doctor first!

Ladies, examples of the medication interactions you need to avoid are HIV drugs, azole antifungals, and macrolide antibiotics. When you take these or other ones that trigger interactions and still need colchicine, expect a different dose! Of course, alternative medication is another option!