Colchicine and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• kcj...
• April 17, 2014

Colchicine for Gout, Acute "I like to say Colcrys 0.6 is THE BEST. I got the prescription barely yesterday and just about 8 hrs later I was without pain on my ankles and my burning disappeared. I was able to sleep. After being unable to sleep for 3 consecutive days. Thanks to this wonderful medication, I was able to sleep last night and able to workout. As for side effects, only soft stools but nothing extreme. DEFINITELY, I RATHER DEAL WITH SOFT STOOL THAN DEALING WITH ALL THAT BURNING AND PAIN ON MY FEET! I truly regret not taking this medicine since 6 years ago. I just did not know I sadly have gout. GLADLY NOW I FOUND COLCRYS."

• Bud...
• November 3, 2016

Colchicine for Gout, Acute "I have chronic gout and osteoarthritis, had it for 15 years and am going through a bad gout attack today. Right ankle joint feels like somebody busted an empty bottle and broken glass inside my cartilage. It is the most pain imaginable, not even 30 mg hydrocodone helps. This is my 40th or so attack in my life, lost count. Main cause for me was uric acid caused by drinking beer for many years, I never learned. Yeah, I took just about everything from several meds: indomethacin, diflunisal, allopurinol currently, and today Colcrys x3 pills, which will knock it out here in about a few hours. Drink plenty of water and yeah, diarrhea to flush out comes with it. I have cut out drinking for over 6 weeks and just one six-pack one day and bam!! Full-blown gout."

• Mik...
• July 31, 2017

For Gout, Acute "... but my side effects from colchicine were terrible - the doc had put me on 2 x 5 mg and then 5 mg every 6 hours. 24 hours later, I had spontaneous diarrhea and vomiting for 36 hours - unable to eat much and a terrible time. I wanted to warn everyone about the side effects. New research says the most effective and least toxic dose for colchicine is only 2 tablets and then 1 one hour after flare-ups."

• Jxn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2016

Colchicine for Gout, Acute "Had a bad flare-up of gout in my left foot. Dr. prescribed Colcrys, and after three days, I had no relief from the pain, swelling, or burning, but I did have terrible nausea and diarrhea. Doctor then switched me to Indomethacin, and within hours, the pain started to subside. Now, two days later, I'm about 80% back to normal."

• Sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2014

For Gout, Acute "I used to get gout in the past. Mainly in my big toe, occasionally severe - meaning I could not sleep or walk. Basically - when it was at its worst - it was a living hell. I was prescribed a preventative (probenecid?), along with pain meds. Then I was given colchicine. The way I was prescribed it was unusual - I was told to take a pill every hour until I became sick! Well, about 6 hours and six pills later - I slowly became ill, had the runs, was throwing up - felt like I had the flu. But, after all that nastiness passed, amazingly, the pain in my toe was gone! It seemed to have been flushed from my system. My toe was still red and itchy, but the pain was gone. It was amazing! Ultimately, the side effects were surely worth the relief!"

• KO1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2015

For Gout, Acute "I've had about 4 to 6 gout attacks over the past year, and I'm 31 years old. Overall healthy, just like to have way too much fun and eat real good too. That being said, the gout attack I'm suffering with now was a beast mode of an attack to my ankle, and it's lasted for nearly a week. At first, the doctor gave me prednisone (steroid pack), that did absolutely nothing to help. Got a shot of cortisone in my backside, which didn't help either, since the gout is in my ankle. (In the past, a direct cortisone shot to the affected area would do wonders!) So, I call the doctor's office after my pain has not gone down, and if anything, it's gone up! The doctor gives me Colcrys...says...'SD affect diarrhea' not on 1st day/2nd day for me...but it's a miracle medicine, pain-free."

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2024

For Gout, Acute "All I can say is WOW! I thought my ankle pain was due to sciatica. Had my annual checkup, and the blood work showed the high uric acid levels. My doctor told me I had gout. I thought that was something my long deceased aunt from the South made up. I never knew what it was! I've been taking the colchicine for 5 days, and this medication is a blessing! My Norco, which I still use for other pain issues, does absolutely nothing for gout. I've also adjusted my diet and am using a cleanse for the uric acid. The diarrhea just showed up today, but I can deal with this a lot better than the pain I experienced from the gout. I'm not a crier, but that pain had me shedding tears."

• gre...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 2, 2024

For Gout, Acute "When used at the first sign of symptoms, colchicine works well for acute gout flares. Take 2 tablets initially, then 1 tablet per hour until symptoms are relieved or until nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea occurs. This drug is not usually covered by insurance. Colchicine is available as Colcrys and possibly other brand names."

• Mem...
• April 23, 2016

For Gout, Acute "Excellent saved my life and sanity. Had gout for 5 weeks in severe pain between 7-11 on a scale of 10. Kept improving slightly then flaring up. Couldn't wear shoes! Have used it now for 5 days and almost all gone! Best with Voltaren. This is my first gout attack. Also, having it with meals stops the sickly feeling. Only slight loose stools."

• Gou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2022

For Gout, Acute "I take 2 pills at the start of a big gout attack and the last pill of the day one hour later. It took 13 hours for relief of severe pain to reduce by 50%. But for 13 hours, I couldn’t walk even with a cane. At 19 hours, I could walk with no cane. 24 hours after the start, slight diarrhea, but I could walk with no limp."

• trv...
• June 7, 2009

For Gout, Acute "This is a useful drug, but care must be taken not to take too much when trying to get relief. The maximum start-up dose is usually greater than that needed to create problems in sensitive individuals, or if taken with another (incompatible) drug. I took 6 x 0.5 mg tablets for 2 days recently for an attack of left toe gout while starting on Simvastatin (for blood lipid lowering) and ended up with severe diarrhea (without any stomach pain). This knocked back the gout attack also, but cessation of therapy allowed it back with a vengeance, and two very bad nights followed. I have cleared the statin after 2 days, so will start a low dose of colchicine again if needed tonight, but keeping to 1-2 mg max dose in the future."

• Dob...
• October 12, 2019

For Gout, Acute "Wish the doctor would have warned about the diarrhea. Taking this and indomethacin at the same time. I’ve had flare-ups for 20 years, about once a year. First time taking this. Instructions were to take two 0.6 mg tablets, then one hour later take another. Then, twelve hours later, another. Was thinking about getting a haircut today, but that might be out, lol."

• Dul...
• July 13, 2017

For Gout, Acute "Extremely prolonged first attack of gout. Repeat visits to GP, prescribed various drugs, then colchicine. Only 4-day course. Worked within a day. Pure relief! Side effects: really sudden diarrhea which lasted 24 hours. Benefits definitely outweigh side effects."

• Vik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 22, 2016

For Gout, Acute "Have suffered gout attacks for 40 years. Taking the prescribed dosage resulted in diarrhea after three days. Now I take a single 500 mcg tablet for one or two days at the first sign of an attack. This proves effective with no side effects. It also means I need to keep a supply of colchicine at hand."

• ros...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 13, 2024

For Pseudogout, Prophylaxis "Misdiagnosed with RA for years. Nothing worked. Drugs were more intense. Then tried this. Life restored in two weeks. Can cause severe diarrhea, so I have to cut down or discontinue for a few weeks. Worth it!"

• il ...
• November 4, 2009

For Gout, Acute "I am subject to relatively frequent gout flare-ups, every 2-3 months or so. At the first symptoms, I take one 0.5 mg of colchicine every three hours, and most of the time after 2-3 pills the pain is gone. I also take 1-2 pills of Imodium to avoid the diarrhea. It works fine for me."

• Kat...
• November 29, 2020

For Gout, Acute "Colchicine was very effective in relieving my symptoms the next day. Unfortunately, the drug made me very ill. Violent vomiting and diarrhea for three days until it was out of my system. Just not for me."

• Anonymous
• June 26, 2009

For Behcet's Disease "Been using colchicine for over 20 years. No noticeable side effects, but do get my bloods checked annually. Only problem was when returned to using it after a two-year break. Some diarrhea at first, but this stopped after a few weeks once body built up tolerance to the drug."

• Ase...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2022

For Behcet's Disease "I started colchicine for the first time, and it gave me severe diarrhea, and after the third day, my hair started to fall out a lot. Then I discontinued this awful drug. I'm lost now, I don't know what else to take to reduce my Behçet's symptoms. My ears are blocked now, and I have difficulty breathing, especially at night, plus hair fall and joint pain, mouth ulcers. I've been going to doctors all the time, didn't know what I had in the beginning. Five years later, I was diagnosed with Behçet's disease. I always feel depressed, nothing is helping my symptoms. I feel so tired all the time and can't cook for my children."

• Anonymous
• September 24, 2018

For Gout, Acute "Have had gout for 14 years. Been on allopurinol probably 8 of those. Probably 8 years for Colcrys too. But only take it during a flare-up. It used to work amazingly. Last two times it has helped. But I get diarrhea. Woke me up yesterday and was running to the bathroom all day. And today. And this time my foot is still in a lot of pain. Thank goodness I am off work."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2021

For Gout, Prophylaxis "Don't bother. I took colchicine for a few days, and all I got was a gut ache, diarrhea, and it comes with a risk of your hair thinning, and at my age, it would probably stay like that. Gout is no better, so I am getting these changed to another medication, but there is virtually no choice. You either take prednisone steroids, which makes you fat and depressed, or you take NSAIDs unless they give you prescription strength, you can buy them yourself over the counter. So I believe you are on your own with gout."

• Anonymous
• December 25, 2009

Colchicine for Gout, Acute "Reduced initial pain extremely fast. 3 days later, had mildly loose stools, slightly crampy stomach."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 23, 2016

For Familial Mediterranean Fever "It saved my life. My quality of life before colchicine was very low. Now I can smile and look to the future. Only side effect is mild diarrhea."

• Jef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2017

For Gout, Acute "Colchicine was very effective when I was 40 to 50 years old, stops pain in 8 hours. Now when I take it, it causes diarrhea."