Colchicine

The label describes colchicine for preventing gout flares and for treating a flare when taken at the first sign. It is also described for familial Mediterranean fever in adults and children aged four or older.

The label says it is not a pain reliever and should not be used for pain from other causes.

• Preventing gout flares
• Treating acute gout flares
• Familial Mediterranean fever

The label says the exact way it helps in familial Mediterranean fever is not fully known. Evidence suggests it may interfere with the inflammasome complex that activates interleukin-1 beta.

It also disrupts microtubule function, which stops white blood cells called neutrophils from activating and moving to inflamed areas.

This page covers the US label for colchicine tablets taken by mouth, with the dosing the label gives for adults and, where the label says so, children.

This is label-level information, not personal advice. Indian pack labels may differ, and your prescriber's instruction always comes first.

For adults and adolescents over 16, the label describes 0.6 mg once or twice daily to prevent gout flares, up to 1.2 mg a day.

To treat a flare, the label describes 1.2 mg at the first sign, then 0.6 mg one hour later, up to 1.8 mg over one hour. Higher doses were not more effective.

The label says doses depend on age, kidney and liver function and other medicines, and may be taken with or without meals. Dosing for familial Mediterranean fever differs and is set individually.

• Prevention: 0.6 mg once or twice daily
• Flare: 1.2 mg then 0.6 mg an hour later
• Maximum 1.8 mg over one hour for a flare
• With or without meals

The label says fatal overdoses have happened in adults and children, and tablets must be kept out of reach of children. People with kidney or liver problems must not take it with P-gp or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.

It has caused blood cell problems and muscle or nerve damage, with higher risk in older adults and in kidney disease. The label says pregnancy data found no drug-linked birth defect risk, but colchicine crosses the placenta.

• Fatal overdose risk
• Keep away from children
• Kidney or liver impairment with certain interacting drugs
• Blood cell problems
• Muscle and nerve toxicity
• Dose depends on age and organ function

• P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
• HIV protease inhibitors
• Statins and fibrates
• Cyclosporine
• The label says P-gp and strong CYP3A4 inhibitors raise colchicine levels, and fatal interactions have been reported.
• This includes all protease inhibitors except fosamprenavir.
• Statins, gemfibrozil, fenofibrate and cyclosporine used with colchicine may raise the risk of muscle damage.

No match in this label text. Ask your pharmacist about any medicine you take.

The label gives a storage range of 20 to 25 degrees C.

The label also says to protect it from light, keep the container tightly closed.

Follow the storage line on your own pack, and keep medicines out of the reach of children.

In the Drugs Rules schedules we checked, colchicine is listed under Schedule H (serial and rule: Schedule H, serial 133 (rules 65 and 97)). Schedule H medicines are sold only on a registered doctor's prescription.

Colchicine is on the National List of Essential Medicines 2022. Listed forms include: Tablet 0.5 mg (page 62).

NPPA lists ceiling prices for scheduled colchicine formulations. The table shows the rows we found. Check NPPA directly for the current list.

The Jan Aushadhi (PMBJP) list we checked has 1 product row that mention colchicine. We did not capture prices for them.

The banned fixed-dose combination list we checked has 2 entries that mention colchicine. This does not mean the single medicine is banned. Use our checker for a specific combination.

NPPA ceiling prices set the most a seller can charge per unit for the listed formulations, before local taxes. They are ceilings, not the price you will always pay.

Jan Aushadhi lists colchicine products including Colchicine Tablets 0.5mg 0.5mg. We have not shown a price for them. Check the pack and the seller for the actual price.