colchicine

Last reviewed 01/2018

Colchicine is a drug that was used for the treatment of acute gout. It is believed to function by interference with microtubules, so preventing phagocyte transit to the site of urate deposition where they further exacerbate inflammation.

Side effects include abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea; rarely, bone marrow suppression may occur.

It has largely become outmoded as a first line treatment in gout by NSAID's.