| Usage |
Usage
Colchicine is administered orally in tablet form and can be taken with or without food. Its usage differs depending on the intended goal:
• To prevent gout attacks or treat FMF: Typically, it is taken once or twice daily.
• For immediate relief during a gout attack: An initial dose is taken at the first sign of pain, followed by a smaller dose one hour later.
If pain persists or another attack occurs within a few days after initial treatment, consult your doctor before taking more doses. Adhere closely to the instructions on your prescription label, and seek clarification from your doctor or pharmacist regarding any uncertainties. Always take colchicine precisely as prescribed; avoid altering the dosage or frequency without your doctor's guidance.
For those using colchicine to manage FMF, the doctor may initiate treatment with a low dose and gradually increase it. Conversely, if side effects emerge, the doctor might reduce the dose.
Should a gout attack arise while taking colchicine for prevention, contact your doctor promptly. They may advise taking an extra colchicine dose, followed by a smaller one an hour later. If additional colchicine doses are taken during a gout attack, the next scheduled dose should be delayed for at least 12 hours.
It's important to note that colchicine remains effective in preventing gout attacks and managing FMF only when consistently taken. Continue taking it even if you feel well and never discontinue its use without consulting your doctor.
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| Side Effects |
Side Effects
Colchicine may lead to various side effects. Notify your doctor if any of the subsequent symptoms are bothersome or persistent:
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps or pain
Certain side effects demand immediate medical attention. Contact your doctor without delay if you encounter any of the ensuing symptoms:
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Numbness in the fingers or toes
• Unusual bruising or bleeding
• Sore throat, fever, chills, or indications of infection
• Weakness or fatigue
• Paleness or a grayish hue on the lips, tongue, or palms
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| Storage |
Storage
Store this medication in its original container, securely sealed, and out of the reach of children. Store it at room temperature, ensuring it's shielded from excessive heat and moisture (avoid storing it in the bathroom).
Safeguard all medications from children's access, as many containers (e.g., weekly pill organizers, eye drops, creams, patches, inhalers) may not be child-resistant and can be easily opened by young children. To prevent accidental ingestion by children, always secure safety caps and promptly place medications in a secure location, inaccessible to children.
For proper disposal of unused medications, take special precautions to prevent access by pets, children, or others. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the recommended method for medication disposal is through a medicine take-back program. Consult your pharmacist or contact your local waste disposal or recycling department to inquire about available take-back programs in your community.
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| Special Precautions |
Special Precautions
Before starting colchicine, it's important to:
1. Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you have any allergies, including allergies to colchicine, other medications, or any components present in colchicine tablets. Refer to the medication guide or consult your pharmacist for a list of ingredients.
2. Provide a comprehensive list of your current prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Include any you've taken within the past 14 days or plan to take in the future. Pay special attention to medications such as:
• Antibiotics like azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin), telithromycin (Ketek).
• Aprepitant (Emend).
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) like atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor).
• Immunosuppressive medications like cyclosporine (GenGraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).
• Digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin).
• Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, others).
• Fibrates including bezafibrate, fenofibrate (Antara, Lipofen), and gemfibrozil (Lopid).
• HIV or AIDS medications such as atazanavir (Reyataz), amprenavir (Agenerase), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), nelfinavir (Viracept), indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase), and ritonavir (in Kaletra, Norvir).
• Nefazodone.
• Ranolazine (Ranexa).
• Verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).
Your doctor may need to adjust your medication dosages or closely monitor you for potential side effects.
3. Disclose any history of kidney or liver disease to your doctor.
4. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or currently breastfeeding, notify your doctor. Should you become pregnant while taking colchicine, contact your healthcare provider promptly.
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