Medicine & USMLE

Colchicine

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Musculoskeletal Drugs
  1. Corticosteroids
  2. Acetaminophen
  3. Azathioprine
  4. Sulfasalazine
  5. TNF Inhibitors
  6. Immunosuppressants (Cyclosporine, Mycophenolate, Tacrolimus)
  7. NSAIDs
  8. Colchicine
  9. Allopurinol
  10. Rasburicase
  11. Dantrolene
  12. Muscle Relaxants
  13. Bisphosphonates: Alendronate, Risedronate

Summary

Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory medication that is used to reduce inflammation, treating acute gout attacks and pericarditis. The biggest side effect to know is gastrointestinal distress. Colchicine may be taken with food to relieve GI discomfort.

Key Points

  • Mechanism
    • Anti-inflammatory
      • Inhibits leukocytes from migrating to the gout site, reducing the inflammatory response
    • Clinical Use
      • Acute gout attacks
        • Colchicine is effective at reducing the inflammation associated with acute gout attacks
        • NSAIDs may also be taken to alleviate the acute pain
      • Acute pericarditis
        • Inflammation of the pericardium (the membrane around the heart)
    • Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
      • Gastrointestinal distress
        • Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
        • Take with food