User:Mr. Ibrahem/Colchicine

Colchicine is a medication used to treat gout and Behçet's disease. In gout, it is less preferred to NSAIDs or steroids. Other uses include the prevention of pericarditis and familial Mediterranean fever. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include gastrointestinal upset, particularly at high doses. Severe side effects may include low blood cells and rhabdomyolysis. Safety of use during pregnancy is unclear while use during breastfeeding appears safe. Excessive doses may result in death. Colchicine works by decreasing inflammation via multiple mechanisms.

Colchicine, in the form of the autumn crocus, has been used as early as 1500 BC to treat joint swelling. It was approved for medical use in the United States in 1961. It is available as a generic medication. In the United Kingdom, a month's supply costs the NHS about £7 as of 2019 while in Canada it is about 10 CAD as of 2021. In the United States, the wholesale cost of this amount is about US$252. In 2017, it was the 201st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than two million prescriptions.