Summary

Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat gout, a type of arthritic inflammation. Colchicine achieves this reduction in inflammation by blocking microtubule polymerization, which impairs the inflammatory response of neutrophils. Clinically, colchicine is first-line in the acute treatment of gout flares, along with NSAIDs.  Patients taking colchicine commonly experience GI side effects like abdominal pain, as well as nausea and vomiting.

Key Points

• Colchicine
  • Mechanism
    • Inhibits microtubule polymerization
      • Binds and stabilizes tubulin, preventing its aggregation
      • Impairs neutrophil migration (chemotaxis), phagocytosis, degranulation
      • Also inhibits leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production
  • Indications/Clinical Use
    • Acts as Anti-inflammatory agent
    • Treats Acute and Chronic gout
      • First-line along with NSAIDs for acute gout flares
      • Reduced inflammatory response to uric acid crystals
  • Adverse Effects
    • Causes Gastrointestinal irritation
    • Causes agranulocytosis
    • Causes myopathy
    • Avoid in people with impaired renal function or elderly (more toxicity)