Colchicine: the good, the bad, the ugly and how to minimize the risks.
review · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38019947.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1093/rheumatology/kead625 and PMC identifier 10986813.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Colchicine has an important role in managing various conditions, including gout, familial Mediterranean fever, amyloidosis, Behçet's syndrome, recurrent pericarditis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. The adverse effect profile of colchicine is well understood. However, due to its narrow therapeutic index, colchicine has been associated with overdose and fatalities. When ingested in toxic amounts, the mainstay of management is supportive care. Strategies to minimize the risk of colchicine poisoning can focus on three broad causes: unauthorized access, intentional overdose and inappropriate dosing. Culturally safe and appropriate education about storage and appropriate use of colchicine is essential to minimize the risk of overdose.
Medical subject headings
- Familial Mediterranean Fever
- Gout
- Amyloidosis
- Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions