Product Details

Product Information Colchicine Tablets 500mcg

What you need to know before you take 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’) 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 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 (agranulocytosis), a decrease in red blood cells and pigment (aplastic anaemia) and/or a low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia). You should have regular blood tests to monitor any changes. 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.