Colchicine is a drug for treating acute gouty arthritis. In acute gouty arthritis there is severe inflammation in response to the presence of uric acid crystals that form in the boney joints. This causes severe pain, redness, and swelling of affected joint(s). Colchicine is useful in suppressing the inflammation inacute gouty arthritis.

Colchicine is also used to treat a rare condition called familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in adults and children older than 4 years of age.

Colchicine may be used in 2 ways. Most people take small amounts of it regularly for a long time (months or even years) to prevent severe attacks or other problems caused by inflammation. Other people take large amounts of colchicine during a short period of time (several hours) only when the medicine is needed to relieve an attack that is occurring. The chance of serious side effects is much lower with the first (preventive) kind of treatment.

BENEFITS

• Colchicine is used to treat acute gout attacks. It affects the way the body responds to uric acid crystals, blocking the inflammation caused by them. Its other benefit is that it reduces the chance of future gout attacks if used in low doses.
• Colchicine medication is used to prevent or treat gout attacks (flares). Usually gout symptoms develop suddenly and involve only one or a few joints. The big toe, knee, or ankle joints are most often affected.
• Colchicine works by decreasing swelling and lessening the build-up of uric acid crystals that cause pain in the affected joint(s).This medication is also used to prevent attacks of pain in the abdomen, chest, or joints caused by a certain inherited disease.
• Colchicine is also used to treat a rare condition called familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in adults and children older than 4 years of age.
• Colchicine should be used with caution by the elderly and debilitated and if you suffer from the following conditions: Heart disease, Gastrointestinal disorders or disease