Colchicine Disease Interactions

The use of colchicine should be used with caution in patients with bone marrow suppression. Patients on long term therapy may require periodic blood counts.

The use of colchicine should be used with caution in patients with cardiac dysfunction. The possibility of cumulative effects of colchicine is increased in these patients.

Colchicine should be used with caution in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Debilitated patients have an increased risk of developing colchicine toxicity.

Electrolyte imbalances including hypokalemia and hyponatremia may worsen in patients taking colchicine as the most common adverse effects of colchicine include nausea and vomiting. Therapy with colchicine should be administered with caution in patients with electrolyte imbalances. Monitoring serum electrolytes is recommended in these patients.

The clearance of colchicine may be significantly reduced and plasma half-life prolonged in patients with chronic hepatic impairment compared to healthy subject. No pharmacokinetic data are available for patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). Caution is recommended when prescribing colchicine to these patients.

Colchicine is significantly excreted in urine in healthy subjects. Clearance of colchicine is decreased in patients with impaired renal function. Colchicine dosing must be individualized according to the patient's renal function. Caution must be exercised when colchicine therapy is instituted in these patients. Monitoring creatinine function is recommended in patients on long term therapy.

Colchicine-induced neuromuscular toxicity and rhabdomyolysis have been reported with chronic treatment in therapeutic doses. Patients with renal dysfunction and elderly patients, even those with normal renal and hepatic function, are at increased risk. Caution must be exercised when colchicine therapy is instituted in these patients.