Colcrys (Colchicine)

What is Colcrys?

Colcrys (Colchicine) affects the metabolism of uric acid. It has quite a pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. This is what makes it one of the most popular medicines for the treatment of gouty attacks.

In what kind of disease treatment, Colcrys is helpful?

As anti arthritic agent Colchicine has proven its effectiveness in the treatment of chondrocalcinosis, gouty acute arthritis and Behcet's disease. In addition, Colchicine is recommended for use for the prevention of attacks of acute gout in combination with other uricosuric agents, phlebitis (several forms), inflammatory diseases in the dentistry and otorhinolaryngology; amyloidosis, familial Mediterranean fever.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take Colcrys?

•        Hypersensitivity

•        Severe hepatic and / or renal failure

•        Severe dysfunction of the digestive tract

•        Disturbance of function of the bone marrow

•        Violations of cardiovascular system

•        Neutropenia

•        Purulent infection

•        Alcoholism

•        Old age

•        Contraindicated in patients who receive hemodialysis

•        Blood dyscrasia

•        Pregnancy and breastfeeding

•        Young age

How should I take Colcrys?

Designed for oral administration, do not bite and do not grind the pill. In order to facilitate ingestion, drink a full glass of water. Individual dose must be determined by the physician. For elderly patients or patients with renal impairment may be required to reduce the dose or frequency of intake. The purchase of the medicine can be done at a pharmacy, after receiving the physician's approval, or you may buy Colcrys securely online.

Colcrys dosage information

For treatment of acute attacks of gout is typically prescribed the set forth below treatment regimen.

Single starting dose makes 1 mg, then — 0.5 mg every 2-3 hours until pain relief. Total dosage for a course should not exceed 6 mg. A second course of curing might be carried out no sooner than 3 days after the previous course. The maximum daily intake makes 6 mg.

To prevent attacks of gout intake for adults is 0.5 mg 2-3 times a day. In this case it advised to take the pill at evening. Healing course is 3 months.

At periodic disease complicated with amyloidosis the healing is long-term (up to 5 years or more), 1-1.5 mg once a day.

The above scheme is not universal and varies according to the characteristics of your body and complexity of the ailment.

What may interact with?

Thiazide diuretics can increase uric acid in the blood serum, which in turn can inhibit the action of Colcrys.

Generic Colcrys can reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 and in combination with cyclosporine provoke the destruction of muscles.

Concomitant use with clarithromycin, erythromycin or tolbutamide can lead to performance enhancement of Colchicine and intoxication with it.

At simultaneous use of Colchicine with NSAIDs and other medications that induce myelodepression, increases risk of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.

Concurrent use with alcohol may enhance the toxicity of Colchicine.

It is possible to use Colcrys combined with allopurinol and agents with uricosuric action.

Cytostatics reduce arthrifuge activity (increase the concentration of uric acid).

What should I watch for while taking Colcrys?

The product might be appointed with extreme caution and under medical supervision to elderly and emaciated sick. Treatment is carried with careful clinical and hematological control, periodically monitoring the content of feces on occult blood. There may be false-positive reactions of urine for hemoglobin and red blood cells. Usually Colcrys tablets do not affect the rate of reaction when driving or operating machinery. However, be aware that large doses or an overdose can affect reaction time, as you may experience responses from the central nervous system.

Colcrys side effects

In use, may develop various undesirable effects:

•     Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, abnormal liver function (increased activity of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl), malabsorption syndrome (manifested by including a deficiency of vitamin B12)

•        Depression, peripheral neuritis, neuropathy

•        Leukopenia, agranulocytosis, neutropenia, aplastic anemia; at long treatment – thrombocytopenia

•        Urticaria, morbilliform rash

•        Absence of sperm in the composition of seminal fluid, impairment of renal function

In case of overdose develop nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in the mouth, skin burning sensation, severe dehydration with blood pressure reduction (up to the development of hypovolemic shock), decreased myocardial contractility, convulsions, ascending paralysis, and breathing depression, hepatocellular lesions, acute renal failure and pulmonary infiltrates. After 5 days of overdose can appear severe bone marrow suppression with leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and coagulopathy. Healing must be carried out in a poison control center.

Therefore, the occurrence of any discomfort is the reason to seek medical aid.

Where can I keep Colcrys?

In no event use expired drugs. Ilosone shelf life is 3 years. Storage environment must be at room temperature, dry and dark. Keep inaccessible to kids and pets. Check the validity and integrity of the packaging at a pharmacy or order Colcrys online with international shipping.