Colchicine

Commonly reported side effects of colchicine include: diarrhea and nausea. See below for a comprehensive list of adverse effects.

Applies to colchicine: oral capsule, oral tablet

Along with its needed effects, colchicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking colchicine:

More common

• Diarrhea
• nausea or vomiting
• stomach pain

Rare

• Black, tarry stools
• blood in the urine or stools
• burning, "crawling", or tingling feeling in the skin
• difficulty with breathing when exercising
• fever with or without chills
• headache
• large, hive-like swellings on the face, eyelids, mouth, lips, or tongue
• muscle weakness
• numbness in the fingers or toes (usually mild)
• pain
• peeling of the skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• redness
• skin rash or hives
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• sore throat
• swelling
• tenderness
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking colchicine:

Symptoms of overdose

• Bleeding
• burning feeling in the stomach, throat, or skin
• convulsions (seizures)
• diarrhea (severe or bloody)
• fast, shallow breathing
• muscle weakness (very severe)
• nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting (severe)

Some side effects of colchicine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

• Hair loss
• loss of appetite

Applies to colchicine: compounding powder, intravenous solution, oral capsule, oral tablet

The most common adverse reactions have included gastrointestinal symptoms and pharyngolaryngeal pain.

Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (23%)

Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal cramping, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting

Frequency not reported: Lactose intolerance, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, paralytic ileus, stomatitis

Gastrointestinal events including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain are the most common adverse reactions reported with use of this drug. These events are often the first signs of toxicity and may indicate the need for dose reduction or therapy discontinuation.

Rare (less than 0.1%): Agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia

Postmarketing reports: Myelosuppression, disseminated intravascular coagulation

Rare (less than 0.1%): Peripheral neuritis

Frequency not reported: Sensory motor neuropathy

Rare (less than 0.1%): Myopathy, rhabdomyolysis

Frequency not reported: Elevated CPK, myotonia, muscle weakness, muscle pain

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hypersensitivity including angioedema

Frequency not reported: Renal damage, bladder spasm, anuria, oliguria

Frequency not reported: elevated AST, elevated ALT, elevated alkaline phosphatase, hepatic damage

Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngolaryngeal pain

Postmarketing reports: Adult respiratory distress syndrome

There have been reports of corneal ulcers refractory to conventional treatment and delayed corneal wound healing following strabismus surgery in patients receiving colchicine. Discontinuation of colchicine therapy resulted in satisfactory wound healing within several days.

Frequency not reported: Delayed corneal wound healing

Rare (less than 0.1%): Alopecia

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Nonthrombocytopenic purpura rashes, rashes, urticaria, dermatoses, dermatitis

Frequency not reported: Maculopapular rash

Frequency not reported: Hypothyroidism

Rare (less than 0.1%): Azoospermia, oligospermia

Frequency not reported: Amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, hematuria

Frequency not reported: Loss of appetite