What is Colchicine?
It’s a treatment for gout that can be used to help manage flare ups of the condition when they strike. It can be taken for long term relief too, usually at the beginning of treatment with other gout management drugs like allopurinol.
Gout is a painful inflammatory condition that attacks the joints of the toes, but it can also affect the hands and wrists, too . It’s caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood, which forms crystals in your joints that triggers the pain and swelling in gout attacks.
Taking Colchicine to help manage the condition can be very effective in reducing the pain and discomfort associated with gout. If you think you’ve got gout symptoms then it’s worth having a quick chat with your clinician who’ll be able to help and advise you on diagnosis and treatment.
How does Colchicine work?
Colchicine works to reduce the amount of inflammation that occurs in the joints caused by the buildup of uric acid, when you have an attack of gout. It does this by stopping your body from overproducing a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil. Neutrophils help cause the swelling, inflammation and joint problems seen in gout. So, Colchicine can reduce the pain and swelling you feel during attacks, as well as helping to bring them down.
What doses of Colchicine are there?
Your Colchicine dosage will depend on your symptoms and whether you’re treating a gout attack or preventing them. Your clinician will make sure the dose is right for you, but if you have any questions, go back to them. You can also send us a message if you’re using our service.
The usual dosage for gout attacks is two 500mcg tablets, followed by another 500mcg tablet after an hour. You can then take one tablet three times a day until your symptoms have eased, but you shouldn’t take more than twelve tablets in total for each episode of gout.
If you’re using Colchicine to prevent gout flare ups whilst you start another gout treatment like allopurinol, you’ll usually take one tablet twice a day. Only take it for as long as your clinician advises you to.