Hello, all,
I've been put on colchicine recently, not for gout but for panniculitis, which is rare enough that it doesn't have a forum of it's own. I've been experiencing some of the really nasty GI side effects as a result, things I wouldn't normally keep taking a medication through. Unfortunately, I have to keep taking it or the alternative is disfigurement. Do the GI side effects ever lessen? And if not, does anyone have tips for managing them? I'm pretty concerned. Thanks!
Hello llr,
I am unable to comment on the side effects of Colchicine for your particular illness but in my case with gout, it is only necessary to take Colchicine while the attack is current.
Thanks, Triron. I was beginning to suspect that this wasn't a long-term type of medication under normal circumstances.
Just had my first batch of cochicine. They only give 10 x 500mg and tell you not to ytake any more than this. Side effects were minimal - took one loperamide to balance...
Lucky you. I first was prescribed Colchicine for twice a day for several months, the side effects for me were severe groin pain and frequent visits to the lavatory. Now taken them as and when required, no side effects.
Hi
Colchicine is particularly nasty but over the years I have learnt to only take a maximum of 4 * 500 micrograms a day, which my body can cope with
If I take anymore i get an upset stomach and feel nauseous
You should be able to take 1 or 2 a day without any side effects but then again everyone is different so it can be a case or trial and error
Thanks
Hello,
I now take Colchicine only when required after explaining the side effects to my GP. When taking it daily I had some of the most awful side effects-bowel problems, severe groin pain, nausea and sleep problems. He agreed to the change only if it worked satisfactorily.
Dear llr,
I take 4 x 500 microgrammes of colchicine a day for a different condition. I will be on it long term. my consultant suggested the following stradegies for the torrential diarrhoea that the colchicne caused. A strict lactose free diet and loperamide (Immodium) as required. This has completely controlled the GI side effects for me. This is approach is well described in the medical literature.
All the best
maria
llr, sorry to hear about your rare condition. As you and your fellow readers will be aware of, continued severe gout attacks will eventually disfigure joints if left untreated. I first took Colchicine about 3 years ago, took the 12 tablets, and my symptoms went straight away - I had no side effects. I continued to take 300mg Allouprinol for prevention, and this was fine for awhile. However, I soon started taking Naproxen alongside Allo, which resulted in raised blood pressure. Having an active job and keen golfer, high impact seems to affect my joints, both knees and elbows flared up badly, to the point, where I could not bend them. I recently revisted my GP, took another course of 12 tablets. My uric acid levels must have been so high (and we do have a family history of gaul bladder stones on my mother's side), it did not touch my gout. I took a further 8 days (24 tablets) without any side effects whatsoever. What did happen was that my joints went completely back to normal for the first time in years. I can now do press ups without having two bottle nose dolphin like swelling on my elbows. In summary, my kidneys obviously do not do a good job of clearing out the uric acid, and with levels getting so high over a period time, I can only summise that is whjy I do not get symptoms of sickness and other GI side effects. As it states on this page, don't retake within 3 days of last course, I do appreciate that you have to take all the time, but maybe a 3-5 day window my alleviate some of the GI. I am a patient though, so alwayas run it pass your GP, that is how I got a 28 day course for me to use when I ever feel a modest attack coming on, and I only tend to need 3 tablets thereafter. Hope this was useful. Mark.