You can purchase colchicine at most retail pharmacies with a valid prescription from a licensed provider.

Are you in need of a colchicine prescription? Schedule an online appointment with a Sesame provider and get relief from gout attacks. After your online appointment, your provider can send your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice.

Colchicine most frequently causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and muscle pain. Stomach-related side effects can sometimes be managed by lowering the dose of medication.

Taking too much colchicine can cause toxicity or overdose. Toxicity can cause diarrhea, vomiting, muscle damage, and muscle weakness, and can lead to organ failure or death. Colchicine can also cause damage to the kidneys and liver, as well as blood disorders.

Colchicine is indicated for use as a preventive measure against gout flare-ups and to treat active flares. Gout is a type of arthritis caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joints. Gout attacks can be extremely painful and often come on without warning. Like other forms of arthritis, gout can affect nearly any joint in the body, but is most commonly felt in the big toe before the condition spreads to other areas.

Common symptoms of a gout flare-up include:

• Intense, sharp joint pain
• Joint discomfort (often lingering after an attack)
• Inflammation
• Redness
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Burning or warm feelings in the affected area
• Limited range of motion

Colchicine helps prevent these symptoms and reduces the discomfort caused by gout attacks. During attacks, your provider may also recommend anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as naproxen.

Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects the joints. Uric acid builds up and forms crystals around the joints. This triggers an immune response, causing the joints to become swollen, tender, red, and painful.

Colchicine calms down the immune response, reducing inflammation, swelling, and pain. While colchicine works well for attacks, it does not decrease uric acid levels. Medications such as allopurinol, febuxostat, and probenecid are used as preventive medications to lower uric acid levels.

How you use colchicine will depend on whether you are treating an acute attack or preventing future attacks. For an acute attack, you will take 2 tablets of colchicine followed by 1 tablet an hour later for 1 day. You should not take another treatment dose for 3 days to prevent damage to your kidneys and liver.

If you are taking colchicine to prevent attacks, you will take 1 tablet once or twice a day. Your provider may recommend you take colchicine for 8 weeks to 6 months to prevent attacks. Follow your provider's recommendation and do not take more than prescribed.

People with FMF may require daily, lifelong treatment with colchicine to prevent attacks.

If you have gout, it is recommended to avoid consuming alcohol. Alcohol can increase uric acid levels and trigger gout flares. Heavy drinking and regular drinking increase this risk.

Drinking alcohol can also increase your risk of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

The duration of use for Colcrys will depend on whether you are treating an acute attack or preventing future attacks. For acute attacks, colchicine is typically taken for 1 to 3 days.

To prevent future gout attacks, colchicine is usually taken for 3 to 6 months. Treatment is sometimes extended to a year if there are tophi present. Tophi are firm but painless nodules that develop under the skin from uric acid accumulation.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking colchicine. Grapefruit can increase the effects of colchicine, resulting in toxicity and organ damage.

Colchicine interacts with many medications. Always tell your provider about any prescription or OTC medications, vitamins, and supplements you take.

The following medications should be avoided while using colchicine:

• Amiodarone
• Clarithromycin
• Cyclosporine
• Digoxin
• Diltiazem
• Dronedarone
• Erythromycin
• Fluconazole
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Mifepristone
• Nefazodone
• Posaconazole
• Ranolazine
• Ritonavir
• Verapamil
• Voriconazole

This is not a complete list of drug interactions.