Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Pharmacy Guide
Patient leaflets and SmPCs, drug interaction checker, official dosages and NHS pharmacy opening hours — all in one place.
Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets
⚠ This medicine appears to have been discontinued
The electronic medicines compendium (emc) no longer publishes a Summary of Product Characteristics for this product, which usually means it is no longer marketed in the UK. The patient leaflet below is kept for reference, but the product may not be available.
If you were prescribed this medicine, other products containing Colchicine may still be available. Do not stop your treatment — ask your pharmacist or GP what to use instead.
What it is and what it is used for
for The name of your medicine is Colchicine Tablets. The active ingredient, colchicine, in Colchicine Tablets is an anti-gout agent. Colchicine Tablets are used to treat gout attacks. They are also used to prevent flare-ups of gout when treatment is started with other drugs such as allopurinol, probenecid and sulfinpyrazone.
What you need to know before you take it
e Colchicine Tablets Do not take Colchicine Tablets:
- if you are allergic to colchicine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- if you have a severe blood disorder
- if you are pregnant
- if you are breastfeeding
- if you are a woman of childbearing age, unless you are using effective contraception
- if you have severe kidney or liver problems
- if you are undergoing haemodialysis
- if you have kidney or liver problems and you are taking certain medicines (see 'Other medicines and Colchicine Tablets').
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If you are not sure whether any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before Warnings and precautions Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Colchicine Tablets if you:
- have problems with your heart, kidneys, liver or digestive system
- are elderly and weak
- have a blood disorder.
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Colchicine Tablets can be toxic so it is important that you do not exceed the dose prescribed by your doctor. There is only a slight difference between an effective dose of Colchicine Tablets and an overdose. Therefore, if you get symptoms such as nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), stomach pain and diarrhoea, stop taking Colchicine Tablets and immediately contact your doctor (see also section 4 'Possible side effects'). Colchicine Tablets can cause a serious decrease in bone marrow function leading to a decrease in certain white blood cells
If you develop symptoms such as fever, inflammation of the mouth, sore throat, prolonged bleeding, bruising or skin problems, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately. These could be signs that you have a serious blood problem and your doctor may want you to have blood tests straight away (see also section 4 'Possible side effects'). Other medicines and Colchicine Tablets Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. Taking another medicine whilst you are taking Colchicine Tablets can affect how they or the other medicine works. When Colchicine Tablets are taken together with any of the following medicines, side effects due to colchicine toxicity are more likely and these can be serious and life-threatening:
- Certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin, erythromycin and telithromycin (used to treat infections)
- Anti-viral drugs such as ritonavir, atazanavir and indinavir (used to treat HIV infection)
- Ciclosporin (used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- Anti-fungal medicines such as ketoconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole
- Certain heart medicines such as verapamil and diltiazem
- Disulfram (used to help treat alcoholism). If you are taking any of the above medicines, your doctor may want to adjust your dose of Colchicine Tablets or temporarily stop your treatment with Colchicine Tablets. If you have liver or kidney problems and you are taking any of the above medicines, you should not take Colchicine Tablets. It is also important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Cimetidine (used to reduce stomach acid), as it may increase the amount of colchicine in your blood
- Tolbutamide (used to control blood sugar), as it may increase the amount of colchicine in your blood
- Digoxin (used to treat certain heart conditions) and 'fibrates' (medicines used to lower cholesterol), as they may increase your risk of a muscle disease known as 'rhabdomyolysis'. Taking Colchicine Tablets together with ciclosporin or 'statins' also increases your risk of developing this disease. Talk to your doctor before taking Colchicine Tablets if you are taking any medicines that may possibly damage your kidneys, liver or blood. Check with your doctor if you are not sure. Colchicine Tablets may reduce the amount of vitamin B12 that your body can absorb through your gut. Colchicine Tablets with food and drink Grapefruit juice may increase the amount of colchicine in your blood. Therefore, you should not drink grapefruit juice whilst you are taking Colchicine Tablets. Pregnancy and breast-feeding If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, do not take this medicine. If you are a woman of childbearing potential, do not take this medicine unless you are using effective contraception. Colchicine passes into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding, do not take this medicine. Driving and using machines The possibility of drowsiness and dizziness should be taken into account. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery. Colchicine Tablets contain lactose Colchicine Tablets contain lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking Colchicine Tablets.
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Non-Regulatory
At too high a dose Colchicine Tablets can be seriously toxic, even fatal. Early symptoms of overdose (which appear on average after 3 hours but can take longer) may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, bloody diarrhoea and low blood pressure. If you forget to take Colchicine Tablets If you forget to take a dose take another as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose do not take the missed dose at all. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Do not take Colchicine Tablets with a shorter interval than prescribed by your doctor. If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Possible side effects
Like all medicines Colchicine Tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you notice any of the following side effects, stop taking Colchicine Tablets and immediately contact a doctor or the nearest hospital accident and emergency department:
- Nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), stomach pain and diarrhoea (see also section 2 'Warnings and Precautions'). These side effects are common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Symptoms such as fever, inflammation of the mouth, sore throat, prolonged bleeding, bruising or skin problems. These could be signs that you have a serious blood problem as a result of bone marrow depression (see also section 2 'Warnings and Precautions'). The frequency of these side effects is not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). Other side effects that have been seen (with unknown frequency) are:
- Inflammation of the nerves which can cause pain, weakness, tingling or numbness
- Nerve damage
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Liver damage
- Hair loss
- Rash
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Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
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Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not take Colchicine Tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the label. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month
- Do not take Colchicine Tablets if you notice that they are showing signs of deterioration such as discolouration
- Do not store above 25°C
- Store in the original package in order to protect from light.
6. Contents of the pack and further information What Colchicine Tablets contains The active ingredient in Colchicine Tablets is Colchicine. Each tablet contains 500 micrograms of colchicine (on a dried weight basis). The other ingredients are lactose, maize starch, stearic acid and purified talc.
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If you take more Colchicine Tablets than you should If you take more Colchicine Tablets than you are supposed to, contact your doctor or nearest hospital accident and emergency department immediately. Take this leaflet and any Colchicine Tablets you have left with you.
How to store it
Colchicine Tablets
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If you have kidney or liver problems Your doctor may reduce your dose of Colchicine Tablets, and you should be carefully monitored for side effects. Do not take Colchicine Tablets if you have severe kidney or liver problems.
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
What Colchicine Tablets look like and the contents of the pack Colchicine Tablets are white to pale yellow in colour and are either unmarked or marked CP on one face. Colchicine Tablets are available in plastic (polypropylene or polyethylene) containers of 100 tablets. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder in UK: Wockhardt UK Limited, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK Manufacturer: CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Ash Road North, Wrexham, LL13 9UF, UK
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Dose to prevent flare-ups of gout when treatment is started with other drugs:
- The recommended dose is one Colchicine Tablet twice daily. Your doctor will tell you how long your treatment with Colchicine Tablets will last.
Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
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Dose to treat gout attack:
- The recommended dose is two to four (2-4) Colchicine Tablets daily until symptoms are relieved or when a total of twelve (12) Colchicine Tablets have been taken. You should not take more than twelve (12) colchicine tablets as a course of treatment. After completion of a course of Colchicine Tablets, you should not start another course for at least three days.
Other formats To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge: 0800 198 5000 (UK only) Please be ready to give the following information: Product name
Reference number
Colchicine 500 microgram Tablets
29831/0055
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Use in adults
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Colchicine Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. This leaflet was last revised in 07/2025
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Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Your doctor will tell you how many Colchicine Tablets to take and for how long you should take them.
- Pain or weakness in muscles
- Abnormal muscle breakdown which can lead to kidney problems (rhabdomyolysis)
- Kidney damage
- Absence of menstrual periods
- Painful periods
- Reduced ability to produce sperm (low or zero sperm count).
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Frequently asked questions about Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets
How do I take Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets?
Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets comes as tablet containing 500mcg. Always follow the dose your doctor or pharmacist has given you, and read the leaflet that comes with the medicine.
What is the active substance in Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets?
The active substance in Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets is colchicine.
Are there equivalent medicines to Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets?
Medicines with the same active substance, strength and form include: Colchicine 500 mcg Tablets, Colchicine 500 microgram Tablets, Colchicine 500 microgram tablets. They are interchangeable only if your prescriber or pharmacist says so.
Where does this information come from?
This leaflet reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets, as published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). The version printed inside your medicine’s packaging is the one that applies to you.
Can I get Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets without a prescription?
Whether a medicine is available over the counter or on prescription only depends on its licence. Check the leaflet, or ask your pharmacist — they can tell you straight away.
About this leaflet
The text above reproduces the patient information leaflet approved for this medicine, restructured for easier reading.
- Source: electronic medicines compendium (emc), Datapharm
- Active substance: colchicine
- Official document: view the original leaflet on emc →
⚕For healthcare professionals — Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)Full SmPC: dosage, interactions, contraindications, warnings+
4.1. Therapeutic indications
Adults
• Treatment of acute gout
• Prophylaxis of gout attack during initiation of therapy with allopurinol and uricosuric drugs
4.2. Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults
Treatment of acute gout attack:
One 500 microgram tablet two to four (2-4) times daily until symptoms are relieved.
The course of treatment should end when symptoms are relieved or when a total of 6 mg (twelve 500 microgram tablets) have been taken. No more than 6 mg of colchicine tablets should be taken as a course of treatment.
After completion of a course, another course should not be started for at least three days (72 hours).
Prophylaxis of gout attack during initiation of therapy with allopurinol and uricosuric drugs:
500 micrograms twice daily.
The treatment duration should be decided after factors such as flare frequency, gout duration and the presence and size of tophi have been assessed.
Patients with renal impairment:
Use with caution in patients with mild renal impairment. For patients with moderate renal impairment, reduce dose or increase interval between doses. Such patients should be carefully monitored for adverse effects of colchicine (see also section 5.2).
For patients with severe renal impairment, see section 4.3.
Patients with hepatic impairment
Use with caution in patients with mild/moderate hepatic impairment. Such patients should be carefully monitored for adverse effects of colchicine.
For patients with severe hepatic impairment, see section 4.3.
Elderly:
Use with caution.
Method of Administration
For oral administration
Tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water
4.3. Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1
• Patients with blood dyscrasias
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Women of childbearing potential unless using effective contraceptive measures
• Patients with severe renal impairment
• Patients with severe hepatic impairment
• Colchicine should not be used in patients undergoing haemodialysis since it cannot be removed by dialysis or exchange transfusion.
• Colchicine is contraindicated in patients with renal or hepatic impairment who are taking a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor or a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (see section 4.5)
4.4. Special warnings and precautions for use
Colchicine is potentially toxic so it is important not to exceed the dose prescribed by a physician with the necessary knowledge and experience.
Colchicine has a narrow therapeutic window. The administration should be discontinued if toxic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea occur.
Colchicine may cause severe bone marrow depression (agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia, thrombocytopenia). The change in blood counts may be gradual or very sudden. Aplastic anaemia in particular has a high mortality rate. Periodic checks of the blood picture are essential.
If patients develop signs or symptoms that could indicate a blood cell dyscrasia, such as fever, stomatitis, sore throat, prolonged bleeding, bruising or skin disorders, treatment with colchicine should be immediately discontinued and a full haematological investigation should be conducted straight away.
Caution is advised in case of:
• liver or renal impairment
• cardiovascular disease
• gastrointestinal disorders
• elderly and debilitated patients
• patients with abnormalities in blood counts
Patients with liver or renal impairment should be carefully monitored for adverse effects of colchicine (see section 5.2).
Co-administration with P-gp inhibitors and/or moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors will increase the exposure to colchicine, which may lead to colchicine induced toxicity including fatalities. If treatment with a P-gp inhibitor or a moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitor is required in patients with normal renal and hepatic function, a reduction in colchicine dosage or interruption of colchicine treatment is recommended (see section 4.5).
This medicinal product contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
4.5. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Colchicine is a substrate for both CYP3A4 and the transport protein P-gp. In the presence of CYP3A4 or P-gp inhibitors, the concentrations of colchicine in the blood increase. Toxicity, including fatal cases, have been reported during concurrent use of CYP3A4 or P-gp inhibitors such as macrolides (clarithromycin and erythromycin), ciclosporin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, HIV protease inhibitors, calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem) and disulfiram (see section 4.4).
Colchicine is contraindicated in patients with renal or hepatic impairment who are taking a P-gp inhibitor (e.g. ciclosporin, verapamil or quinidine) or a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g. ritonavir, atazanavir, indinavir, clarithromycin, telithromycin, itraconazole or ketaconazole) (see section 4.3).
A reduction in colchicine dosage or an interruption of colchicine treatment is recommended in patients with normal renal or hepatic function if treatment with a P-gp inhibitor or strong CYP3A4 inhibitor is required (see section 4.4).
A 4-fold reduction in colchicine dosage is recommended when co-administered with a P-gp inhibitor and/or a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor. A 2-fold reduction in colchicine dosage is recommended when co-administered with a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor.
The magnitude of interactions with strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors as well as with P-gp inhibitors from performed in vivo studies is summarised in the table below:
Single dose of 0.6 mg colchicine without or with:
Number of subjects
% change in colchicine pharmacokinetic parameters
Guidance for dose reduction:
Cmax
AUCo-t
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
Clarithromycin 250 mg twice daily for 7 days
Ketoconazole 200 mg twice daily for 5 days
Ritonavir 100 mg twice daily for 5 days
N=23
N=24
N=18
297
190
267
339
287
345
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Acute gout regimen to be repeated no earlier than 3 days.
Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors
Verapamil ER 240 mg once daily for 5 days
Diltiazem ER 240 mg once daily for 7 days
Grapefruit juice 240 ml twice daily for 4 days
N=24
N=20
N=21
130
129
93
188
177
95
2-fold
Acute gout regimen to be repeated no earlier than 3 days.
Potent P-gp inhibitors
Cyclosporin 100 mg single dose
N=23
324
317
4-fold
Acute gout regimen to be repeated no earlier than 3 days.
Given the nature of the side effects, caution is advised with concomitant administration of drugs that can affect the blood count or have a negative effect on hepatic and/or renal function.
In addition, substances such as cimetidine and tolbutamide reduce metabolism of colchicine and thus plasma levels of colchicine increase.
Grapefruit juice may increase plasma levels of colchicine. Grapefruit juice should therefore not be taken together with colchicine.
Reversible malabsorption of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) may be induced by an altered function of the intestinal mucosa.
The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased by a combination of colchicine with statins, fibrates, ciclosporin or digoxin.
4.6. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Fertility
Colchicine administration in animals induces significant reductions in fertility.
Pregnancy
Colchicine is genotoxic in vitro and in vivo, and is teratogenic in animal studies (see section 5.3). Colchicine is therefore contraindicated in pregnancy (see section 4.3).
Women of childbearing potential have to use effective contraception during treatment.
Breastfeeding
Colchicine is excreted in breast milk. Therefore, use of colchicine is contraindicated in women who are breastfeeding (see section 4.3).
4.7. Effects on ability to drive and use machines
No details are available regarding the influence of colchicine on the ability to drive and use machines. However, the possibility of drowsiness and dizziness should be taken into account.
4.8. Undesirable effects
The following adverse reactions have been observed.
The frequencies are listed under one of the following classifications:
Very common > 1/10
Common > 1/100 and < 1/10
Uncommon > 1/1000 and < 1/100
Rare > 1/10 000 and < 1/1000
Very rare < 1/10 000
Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)
Blood and lymphatic system disorders
Not known: bone marrow depression with agranulocytosis, aplastic anaemia and thrombocytopenia.
Nervous system disorders
Not known: peripheral neuritis, neuropathy.
Gastrointestinal system disorders
Common: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Not known: gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
Hepatobiliary disorders
Not known: hepatotoxicity
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Not known: alopecia, rash.
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Not known: myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Renal and urinary disorders
Not known: renal damage.
Reproductive system and breast disorders
Not known: amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, oligospermia, azoospermia.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9. Overdose
Colchicine has a narrow therapeutic window and is extremely toxic in overdose. Patients at particular risk of toxicity are those with renal or hepatic impairment, gastrointestinal or cardiac disease, and patients at extremes of age.
Following colchicine overdose, all patients, even in the absence of early symptoms, should be referred for immediate medical assessment.
Clinical:
Symptoms of acute overdosage may be delayed (3 hours on average): nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, volume depletion, electrolyte abnormalities, leukocytosis, hypotension in severe cases. The second phase with life threatening complications develops 24 to 72 hours after drug administration: multisystem organ dysfunction, acute renal failure, confusion, coma, ascending peripheral motor and sensory neuropathy, myocardial depression, pancytopenia, dysrhythmias, respiratory failure, consumption coagulopathy. Death is usually a result of respiratory depression and cardiovascular collapse. If the patient survives, recovery may be accompanied by rebound leukocytosis and reversible alopecia starting about one week after the initial ingestion.
Treatment:
No antidote is available.
Elimination of toxins by gastric lavage within one hour of acute poisoning.
Consider oral activated charcoal in adults who have ingested more than 0.1mg/kg bodyweight within 1 hour of presentation and in children who have ingested any amount within 1 hour of presentation.
Haemodialysis has no efficacy (high apparent distribution volume).
Close clinical and biological monitoring in hospital environment.
Symptomatic and supportive treatment: control of respiration, maintenance of blood pressure and circulation, correction of fluid and electrolytes imbalance.
The lethal dose varies widely (7-65 mg single dose) for adults but is generally about 20 mg.
💬 Ask about this leaflet
Ask anything about Colchicine 500 micrograms Tablets. The assistant answers only from this leaflet — if the leaflet does not cover it, it will say so. It does not give medical advice.
Answers come from the patient leaflet published on the electronic medicines compendium (emc). They are not medical advice. Ask a pharmacist or your GP if you are unsure. For urgent help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.