How to Use

Colchicine can build up in the body and cause serious side effects if too much of it is taken or if it is taken too often. Therefore, do not take more of this drug and do not take it more often, than directed by your family doctor . This is especially important for elderly diseaseds, who are more likely than adults people to have colchicine build up in the body and who are also more sensitive to its effects.

For diseaseds taking small amounts of colchicine regularly - preventive treat :

• Take this drug regularly as directed by your family doctor, even if you feel well. If you are taking colchicine to prevent gout attacks and you are also taking another drug to reduce the amount of uric acid in your body, you probably will be able to stop taking colchicine after a while. However, if you stop taking it too soon, your attacks may return or get worse. If you are taking colchicine for certain other medical conditions, you may need to keep taking it for the rest of your life.
• If you are taking colchicine to prevent gout attacks, ask your family doctor to recommend other drug to be taken if an attack occurs. Most people receiving preventive amounts of colchicine must not take extra colchicine to relieve an attack. However, some people can't take the other medication that are using for gout attacks and will have to take extra colchicine. If you are one of these people, ask your family doctor to tell you the largest amount of colchicine you must take for an attack and how long you must wait before starting to take the smaller preventive amounts again. Be sure to follow these directions carefully.

For diseaseds taking large amounts of colchicine only when needed to relieve an attack :

• Start taking this drug at the first sign of the attack for best results.
• Stop taking this drug as soon as the pain is relieved or at the first sign of nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea . Always stop taking colchicine when you have taken the largest amount that your family doctor ordered for each attack, even if the pain is not relieved or none of these side effects occurs.
• The first few times you take colchicine, keep a record of each dose as you take it. Then, whenever stomach upset - nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea occurs, count the number of doses you have taken. The next time you need colchicine, stop taking it before that number of doses is reached. For example, if diarrhea occurs after your fifth dose of drug, take no more than four doses the next time. If taking fewer doses does not prevent stomach upset from occurring after a few treats, check with your family doctor.
• After taking colchicine tablets to treat an attack, do not take any more colchicine for at least 3 days. Always after receiving the drug by injection for an attack, do not take any more colchicine - tablets or injection for at least 7 days . Elderly diseaseds may have to wait even longer between treats and must check with their family doctor for directions.
• If you are taking colchicine for an attack of gout and you are also taking other drug to reduce the amount of uric acid in your body, do not stop taking the other drug . Continue taking the other drug as directed by your family doctor.

Dosage

The number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on how often your attacks occur and on whether you are taking the drug to prevent or to relieve attacks. The amount of drug you take will also depend on how you react to the drug .

• For oral dosage form - tablets:
  • Adults:
    • For preventing gout attacks Most people start with one 0.5-milligram - mg or 0.6-mg tablet a day. If gout attacks continue to occur, the family doctor may direct you to increase the dose to one tablet two or even three times a day for a while. Some people with mild gout may need only one tablet every other day, or even less.
    • For treating a gout attack that has already started Your family doctor will probably recommend one of the following treat plans:
      • One or two 0.5-mg or 0.6-mg tablets for the first dose, then one 0.5-mg or 0.6-mg tablet every one or two hours,
      • Two 0.5-mg or 0.6-mg tablets or one 1-mg tablet every two hours.
        For both plans, stop taking this drug after you have taken the largest amount ordered by your family doctor . If your family doctor has not told you the largest amount that you must take for one attack, do not take more than 6 mg of this drug - a total of twelve 0.5-mg tablets, ten 0.6-mg tablets, or six 1-mg tablets, spread over a period of few hours.
  • Children: Use and dose must be determined by the family doctor.
• For parenteral dosage form - injection:
  • Adults:
    • For preventing gout attacks 0.5 or 1 mg one or two times a day, injected into a vein.
    • For treating an attack of gout that has already started 1 or 2 mg for the first dose, then 0.5 mg or 1 mg every six to twelve hours, injected into a vein After a total of 4 mg has been given, no more colchicine - tablets or injections must be given for at least seven days .
  • Children: Use and dose must be determined by the family doctor.

Missed dose If you are taking colchicine regularly - for example, every day and you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store this drug in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.