Colchicine is a medication used to manage symptoms of gouty arthritis (a buildup of uric acid in the joints) and Behcet's syndrome (an inflammation of the blood vessels). According to Drugs.com, colchicine relieves the pain and swelling of these conditions. Typically, you will take 1.2mg (two tablets) of this medication each day or as your doctor prescribes.
Common Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, colchicine typically causes diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. Diarrhea can result in dehydration and hypokalemia (reduced potassium levels in your blood). Signs of dehydration include dry and cracked lips and dry skin. Simply drinking six to 10 full glasses of water can restore the fluid lost. Signs of hypokalemia include constipation, an irregular heartbeat, fatigue and muscle weakness or spasms. Eat a diet consisting of potassium-rich foods such as apricots, bananas and raisins. These symptoms should subside after three to four days.
Serious Side Effects
The National Library of Medicine says that colchicine can affect your blood cell levels. It can cause leukopenia (low white blood cells), thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) and aplastic anemia, a condition in which your bone marrow does not produce enough red blood cells. Leukopenia makes you prone to all kinds of infections. Even minor infections like the common cold can be hazardous to your health. Thrombocytopenia makes you susceptible to easy bleeding or bruising while aplastic anemia causes pale skin, extreme fatigue and shortness of breath.
Chronic colchicine treatment has also resulted in rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which your skeletal muscles break down. Myoglobin, a substance embedded in your muscle, is released as your muscles break down. It goes to your kidneys and can result in acute kidney failure. The National Institutes of Health indicates that colchicine's other serious side effects include difficulty breathing, a severe rash and seizures. Go to your hospital when you exhibit these effects.
Additional Concerns
Avoid colchicine if you are hypersensitive to it. A hypersensitivity reaction to colchicine includes hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your tongue, throat or face. A dose adjustment of colchicine may be necessary when you suffer from liver, kidney, heart or gastrointestinal disorders.
Member Comments