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Drugs and Medicinal Substances

Colchicine

Musculoskeletal System Agents

Colchicine is a medication used to prevent and treat gout, to treat familial Mediterranean fever and Behcet's disease, and to reduce the risk of heart attack. It works by inhibiting the formation of microtubules and reducing the activity of white blood cells at sites of inflammation, which lowers inflammation through several mechanisms. The drug derives from the autumn crocus plant, which was described for treating rheumatism and swelling in the Ebers Papyrus around 1500 BC. The pure compound was first isolated in 1820 and received United States approval in 1961, and it remains available today as a generic medication with more than two million prescriptions a year.

Facts
Drug Class
Plant-derived alkaloid with anti-inflammatory action 1
Mechanism of Action
Decreases inflammation via multiple mechanisms 1
Approved Use
Prevents and treats gout; treats familial Mediterranean fever and Behcet's disease 1
First Approved / Isolated Year
1961 1
Significant Risk
Narrow therapeutic index, so overdose is a significant risk 1
Classification
Approval Status
Approved 1
ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own account
M: Musculo-Skeletal System 2
Route of Administration
Oral 1
WHO Essential Medicine
Core List 1
Sources
1. Colchicine (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section, paragraph 4
    Colchicine works by decreasing inflammation via multiple mechanisms
  • Lead section, paragraph 1
    used to prevent and treat gout, to treat familial Mediterranean fever
  • Lead section, paragraph 5
    approved for medical use in the United States in 1961
  • Lead section, paragraph 3
    Colchicine has a narrow therapeutic index, so overdosing is a significant risk
  • History section, description of the autumn crocus source plant
    It is a toxic alkaloid and secondary metabolite.
  • Lead section, route-of-administration statement
    Colchicine is taken by mouth.
  • Regulatory approval status
  • WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, core list
View the Source
2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code M
Quote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code M
Musculo-skeletal system
View the Source
Frequently Asked Questions

Is colchicine dangerous in overdose?

Yes, its narrow therapeutic index makes overdose a significant and sometimes deadly risk.

Colchicine has a narrow therapeutic index, so overdosing is a significant risk, and the medication can be deadly in overdose. Severe side effects may include pancytopenia and rhabdomyolysis. Colchicine poisoning by overdose begins with a gastrointestinal phase, followed by multiple organ dysfunction. In 2008 the US Food and Drug Administration removed all injectable colchicine from the US market. This record describes what the sources state and is not medical advice.

How old is the medical use of colchicine, and what is it used for?

Autumn crocus extract was used about 1500 BC; US approval came in 1961.

Colchicine, in the form of autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) crude extract, was used as early as 1500 BC to treat joint swelling. It was approved for medical use in the United States in 1961. It is used to prevent and treat gout, to treat familial Mediterranean fever and Behcet's disease, and to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction.
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