Colchicine

I wish I were able to take this medication, because it is effective…when you can take it. People have mentioned stomach distress, and I certainly had that experience. Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting don’t sound horrible as long as it’s temporary. However, my stomach pain and cramping were so painful that I felt like I was going to pass out. I also had projectile vomiting. It was beyond uncomfortable - it felt dangerous. For context, I was taking 0.6 mg x1 a day for 2 weeks as a preventative. I am trying to use 0.3 mg every 2 days, and so far so good. So the reason I said it was ineffective is that I am not able to take the dosage required.

I am 80 and have been subject to gout attacks since I was 40. Colchicine is a sure fire way to relieve the pain in less than 12 hours. As I grow older I think I become dumber as slowly I was having pain in all my joints. Unlike previous gout attacks which affected my feet. I never suspected gout as the cause of all the joint pain-just old age. Well, I had an attack in my foot so took my fall back Colchicine, two pills at start and one an hour later. I slept better that night than I have in years. Never even got up two or thee times to pee. Next morning my thumbs don’t hurt, my shoulders don’t hurt and my feet, knees, and elbows feel great. I think my whole body was affected by gout, but I just thought old age as I have never experienced old age before! Hope this helps.

My gout attack has felt a bit better but unfortunately I have extremely severe diarrhea from it and cannot work now (only day 2 of 2 asked to take) im so ill! I would rather truck through the gout foot pain then feel like this!

I have only just started taking this medication for a chronic neutrophilic pustular rash all over my body. So far I have not experienced any side effects. Not sure if it is helping yet. Will update if it does.

This medicine seems weak compared to other stuff the doctor gave me . I was originally treated for cellulitis. They gave me an antibiotic. What ever medication that was worked within the first dose I was able to walk again and have instant pain relief. Idr what it was but it was a far more effective treatment for gout even though that was the intended condition originally

I had experienced pain in my big toe joint for years. It was especially painful when driving. My doctor actually said ..."Well, you're getting older now - you must expect these things". I was an international flight attendant for 20 years but later became a real estate broker with my own agency. I argued with the doctor constantly until one especially flare up happened and I had to ask a friend to drive me to the clinic. The Nurse Practitioner took one look and told me ..."Yep, that's gout!". She immediately prescribed Colchicine and after 2-3 days the pain was gone. In 4 years I have only had a couple of flare ups but I am very careful with the food I consume and avoid anything that might affect uric acid levels. I am very angry that my doctor's ignorance - or laziness - had a serious effect on my kidneys because he refused to accept the facts. I live in a very rural area and it is really difficult to find a caring primary provider. Meanwhile, keep some Colchicine on hand and pay attention to your diet!

I have had sporadic gout flare-ups over the past 8 years - even while taking Allopurinol 100mg regularly. My GP wanted to increase my Allopurinol dosage to 800mg/day but I didn't comply. My body - my choice, right? Colchicine is very effective when you take 0.6mg x 2 at the very onset, another single dose an hour later followed by one a day until swelling and pain subsides. The attacks alternate between the knees, the big toe, side of the foot, and the thumb. Now, my rheumatologist has put me on 0.6mg/day regularly (flares or not) with Allopurinol 100mg daily, and I am a little weary about its long term effects on my general health. Also, had to give up beer, sugar, red meats, seafoods, etc.

I was diagnosed with Chondrocalcinosis also known as psuedogout. I have suffered with joint pain most of my adult life. I’ve had regular issues with my knees especially. I’ve been on colchicine 0.6 mg twice a day for almost 2 years. I have not had any joint/knee issues since starting on colchicine. My only side effect is foul-smelling stool.

If I have a sugary drink, gout is close. Liquid sugar in anything form can create a gout flair up. Recently, gout snuck up on me after having sever cold for 6 weeks that I couldn’t shake. Had cough drops which dissolve into liquid sugar-NyQuil has sugar in it. All of the sudden I had what felt like an injury to my ankle and didn’t realize gout had hit this ankle. I have colchicine always handy. But I let this grow on me for 5 days and then the pain of this “injury” went through the roof. Then I thought “gout”. I was in almost unbearable pain by this point. At least a 7 on a 10 scale. I was literally crying and constantly moaning. I took one pill of colchicine and then another an hour later. Within 2 hours I moved from moaning and crying to just heavy throbbing. Colchicine hasn’t ever let me down. I usually use it only when I feel an outbreak coming or when I’ve had a sugary drink. I take one to reduce iron acid. I’ve been very thankful for colchicine.

I was diagnosed with gout this past weekend. I was given colchicine (2 pills and then another pill an hour later). The meds helped with the swelling and pain, but I had severe diarrhea. My doctor has done some blood work to monitor my uric acid levels. She may put me on a maintenance drug to help depending on the bloodwork levels.

I've battled with gout for 15+ years and have never had a good experience with colchicine. I "should" be taking allopurinal on the daily but often forget. For pain management I use alleve and indomethecin as those are both good anti-inflamitories. With all of this said, I do think colchicine gets a bad wrap, and is incorrectly prescribed by doctors. If you are visiting a doctor for a gout flare up, it is already too late to take colchicine. Colchicine needs to be taken on the "onset" of a flare up which is kinda tricky, because as gout sufferers we have all felt the "numbness" start to creep up before and we usually just knock it down with some alleve/indomethecin. That is the time to take colchicine, but honestly the others do better. If you are in the middle of an acute flareup, please tell your doctors to prescribe prednisone!!! It is a powerful steroid base drug to treat athritis and other things, but it does wonders for gout! Prednisone is the only thing that will make a 2-4 week acute flareup be reduced to just 1-2 days, althought if you get a prescription, you will want to make sure you take the 7 days of the prescription to get it completely under control. And as always gout friends, be disciplined in your allopuronal and other healthy food/drinks (tart cherry, reduce red meats etc.)

Took 2 pills well after the attack started, and then 1 more one hour later because the pain and discomfort continued. Then took 2 a day for the next 3 days. Worked really well for me.

I'm 74 and started getting gout 5 years ago while living in Thailand, I researched Gout and found that Colchicine 2.5mg and taking no more than 3 pills per day and once the gout is subsiding, going down to one a day was the best way to manage gout and how to prevent it. The issue we have getting gout in the first place is our Uric Acid blood levels are too high. You need to limit sugar, beer, organ meats, and some seafoods that are high in Purines to help lower your Uric Acid levels. Also, I was taking Hydroclorothiazide which can cause your Uric Acid levels to get out of whack. I've eliminated that drug and I'm now on different blood pressure meds. The doctor has me on Allopurinol 300mg and Colchicine 2.5 once a day and it's working. If you're getting Gout, you need to have a blood test to check your Uric Acid levels to get them into the proper range to prevent another attack, and always stay hydrated as well.

I recently had gout for the first time. I am in my 60s. I saw the doctor on March 2022 and was prescribed Colchicine and Prednisolone. Relief came quickly. So did the diarrhea. A month later I got it again. Same meds, same results.

I was recently prescribed this medication for autoimmune & inflammation. I've only taken it the last 2 days & had to cut my dose 0.6mg in half because it made me very sleepy. Anyone have this side effect?

Took it for 4 days for a gout flare up. Zero relief.

In spite of my life long lacto-ovo vegetarian diet with some occasional consumption of white meat I have Osteoarthritis, heart failure, and now gout! I have very few gout flares but when I have one I take Colchicine 0.6 mg once a day for several days. The only issue that I have with it is diarrhea which gets steadily worse the longer I take it. My cardiologist has studied the interaction of this and some of my heart medications and has told me to not take colchicine unless absolutely necessary. It and Carvedilol react badly lowering my blood pressure below 100/71! So if you are also a heart patient let your cardiologist know exactly what you have been prescribed by your other doctors!

I have had gout intermittently, since I was 43. I usually get gout once or twice a year. For two or three days, I can barely walk. I also have trouble sleeping. I take Advil to reduce the pain and swelling. However, that is usually not enough and I have to go to the doctor. They often give me Naproxen, which reduces the symptoms, but not the cause. This time I got Colchicine and the swelling went down overnight. Colchicine is probably not good over a long time. I cut down on beer and drink more water. I have a salad, when I can. I hope things get better.

Diagnosed w/ gout at 30. Take allopurinol daily. Past twenty years managed diet and exercised religiously and did not have an attack in over 10 yrs. Recently after eating shellfish and red meat, flared up foot. Colchicine helped reduce swelling along with NSAID OTC for pain.

Before taking this know that this is not a PAIN MEDICATION. it is very specific to a gout attack and it must be taken as soon as the attack happens (first 48 hours or less) Having said that, this has been great for me. Make sure you do have gout. differentiating gout from sprain/strain induced pain is for the dr to decide.