Use of Colchicine for Gout Treatment

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Colchicine is another drug that is used to treat gout.  Unlike probenecid, colchicine can be used during an acute gouty attack as well as for maintenance in preventing attacks.  It is unknown how colchicine resolves an attack.  Aside from that, colchicine is also used to treat other conditions such as Mediterranean fever. Formulation                   Colchicine comes in two formulations:     Injection: 1 mg/2ml     Tablets: 0.5 mg, 0.6 mg Usage     Use colchicine as directed by your physician.  In resolving acute attacks, patients are initially given 1.2 mg orally.  Increasing dose is given gradually with 0.6 mg every hour or 1.2 mg per 2 hours.  This is continued until symptoms resolved, when side effects (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) are experienced, or when a maximum dose of 8 mg is achieved.       Dosages of 0.6mg taken orally for 3-4 days a week will prevent gout attacks in patients having one attack per year or less.  Those who have more than one attack per year are to take 0.6mg or colchicine daily.       It is to be taken with a full glass of water in a full stomach.  It is important that you take in extra water during the course of your therapy to prevent build up of renal stones.  During the course of the treatment, it is advised that you limit the amount of purine-rich foods in your diet. Special Considerations:                   When you are given colchicine, it is important that you tell your doctor about the following medical conditions if you have them:     Allergy to any drugs     Liver disease     Kidney disease     Heart disease              Gastrointestinal disorder such as ulcer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease     Pregnancy Taking alcohol during the course of the therapy is also not advised as it decreases the effect of colchicine. Watch out for signs of drug overdose which are GI symptoms (nausea and vomiting, diarrhea), muscular weakness, unusual bleeding, numbness, and ascending paralysis (paralysis starting from the legs going up).  Once any of these conditions are experienced, it is important to stop taking the drug and rush to the nearest hospital for medical management.  If you are scheduled for surgery of any nature (may it be a simple incision or a dental extraction), advise your doctor that you are taking the drug.  You must also inform the laboratory technician that you are taking colchicine for it will affect uric acid levels in your urine. Side Effects     Inform your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:     Paresthesia     Nausea     Vomiting     Diarrhea     Itchiness     Anemia Keep up with your scheduled laboratory examinations to monitor the effects of colchicine.  If the drug is proven not to be effective, your doctor may prescribe other gout medications.
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