Colchicine for Gout - By: A. Ray

If regular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) don't work well enough, or the patient is unable to take them, a doctor will likely prescribe colchicine for gout. The name colchicine comes from the Greek word for autumn crocus, kolchikon. The autumn crocus, also known as meadow saffron, has been used as a gout medication for about 2000 years. The medicine is derived from the dried seeds or bulb – the rest of the plant is highly poisonous.

Colchicine was first isolated from the autumn crocus in 1820. The colchicine mechanism of action is different from other painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs. Colchicine acts by binding to a small globular protein called tubulin and interfering with immune system first-responder inflammatory white cells called neutrophils, reducing inflammation.

Colchicine has both pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effects, although it's most powerful as an anti-inflammatory. Therefore, Colchicine can treat gout in two different ways, at higher doses to treat the pain and inflammation of an acute attack, or at lower doses to prevent recurring attacks. While colchicine can reduce the attacks of gout, it does not prevent the accumulation of uric acid that can lead to gout attacks and joint damage.

It has been widely available as colchicine tablets since the 1930's, and was FDA approved in combination with probenicid (a gout medication which increases uric acid excretion) in the early 1980's. Colchicine was approved as a solitary gout drug in 2009 under the brand name Colcrys.

Colchicine can also be administered intravenously, but IV use should be restricted to hospitalized patients under the care of a doctor because of the potential for toxicity.

Colchicine is best known as an effective gout medication, but it is also used to treat pseudogout, and has been approved for the treatment of familiar Mediterranean fever (FMF). FMF is a rare inherited disorder that causes recurring attacks of fever and inflammation. Less commonly, colchicine is prescribed to treat amyloidosis, cirrhosis, pericarditis, Paget's disease and Behcet's disease.

Some naturopaths use the gout medication off-label as a treatment for a number of conditions, including back pain. Colchicine can also be used in combination with another anti-inflammatory to treat irritable bowel syndrome, and is being investigated as a treatment for cancer.

Colchicine should be taken with food and a full glass of water to reduce the possibility of side effects. The most common side effects of colchicine include loss of appetite and gastrointestinal upset such as stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of stomach problems. Prescription colchicine is a powerful drug, and can be toxic at high doses. Never exceed your doctor's recommended colchicine dosage.

About the Author

Alex Ray advocates for affordable access to healthcare and medication. She advises gout patients to buy colchicine from Canada. A three-month supply of colchicine for gout can be ordered through an online Canadian pharmacy with a current valid prescription. Right now, the Canadian pharmacy Big Mountain Drugs is offering 100 .5 mg generic colchicine tablets for $29 US, along with a 5% pharmacy rewards program and a $5 pharmacy savings coupon on a partner site, onlinepharmacycoupons.com.

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