Colchicine

Colchicine is a medication that is used to treat acute gout attacks and prevent relapses, especially in the first 2 years after starting to take hypouricemic drugs. Colchicine can also be used for systemic scleroderma, amyloidosis, Behçet's disease, and familial Mediterranean fever.

The producing country of Colchicine is Georgia, as well as the French laboratory Roussel. The drug belongs to the pharmacological group of alkaloids and other cytostatic drugs of plant origin.

Colchicine is available in the form of 1 mg tablets and also as a substance and 1 mg film-coated tablets. The active ingredient is colchicine.

Colchicine has a number of contraindications, including hypersensitivity, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, bone marrow, neutropenia, liver and kidney dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, purulent infections, alcoholism, pregnancy and old age.

When taking Colchicine, dyspeptic symptoms may occur, such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, etc. Myelosuppression (leukopenia, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia - usually with long-term treatment), temporary alopecia, liver failure, increased blood levels may also occur. alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, renal dysfunction, depression, myopathy, peripheral neuritis, reversible aspermia, malabsorption syndrome, skin allergic reactions, local irritation with IV administration and extravasation - sharp pain, necrosis.

Colchicine interacts with other drugs, enhancing their depressive and sympathomimetic effects. Colchicine may also interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12. NSAIDs and other drugs that cause myelosuppression increase the risk of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Antigout activity is reduced by cytostatics, increasing the concentration of uric acid.

In case of an overdose of Colchicine, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, abdominal and oral pain, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, burning of the skin, severe dehydration with hypotension and hyperglycemia, as well as a drop in blood pressure, disturbances in heart rhythm and breathing, and convulsions may occur. , coma and death.

Treatment of colchicine overdose includes gastric lavage, activated charcoal, symptomatic therapy (including infusion therapy, correction of electrolyte balance and reduction of uric acid levels), as well as monitoring of the function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

In general, Colchicine is an effective drug for the treatment of gout and other diseases, but its use should only be under the supervision of a physician and in compliance with all contraindications and caution.