Key takeaways

  • Colchicine, a generic prescription tablet used for gout and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), can cause side effects. These can include mild side effects such as diarrhea and nausea. Or they can include serious side effects such as rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and blood disorders.
  • People with kidney or liver problems may require lower dosages of colchicine. They should also avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice and certain medications to help lower the risk of some side effects.
  • Long-term side effects with colchicine are possible but rare. It’s important to discuss your existing health conditions with a doctor before starting colchicine treatment.

Colchicine is a generic prescription drug used to:

For gout, you may take colchicine on a short-term or long-term basis. For FMF, you’ll typically take colchicine as a long-term treatment.

Colchicine comes as oral tablets. It also comes as capsules that you swallow. But this article covers only the tablet form of colchicine.

This article describes colchicine’s side effects (also called adverse effects). For more information about colchicine, including details about its uses, see this in-depth article.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their colchicine treatment. Examples of colchicine’s more commonly reported side effects include:

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Colchicine’s side effects explained” section.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

Colchicine may cause mild side effects. See the drug’s prescribing information for complete information. Examples of mild side effects that have been reported with colchicine include:

  • diarrhea
  • nausea and vomiting
  • belly pain
  • fatigue (low energy)
  • headache
  • sore throat

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily manageable. But if you have any symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking colchicine unless your doctor recommends it.

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Colchicine’s side effects explained” section.

Serious side effects that have been reported with colchicine include:

  • nerve damage that causes numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes
  • rhabdomyolysis, which is the breakdown of damaged muscle
  • blood disorders

If you develop serious side effects while taking colchicine, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911. Or call your local emergency number.

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Colchicine’s side effects explained” section.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone. It gives doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking colchicine and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, colchicine can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it difficult to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an antihistamine you take by mouth, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to colchicine, they’ll decide whether you should continue using it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911. Or call your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to colchicine. If you have, they may switch you to a different treatment.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about colchicine’s side effects.

Does colchicine cause any side effects related to the kidneys or liver?

Yes, colchicine can cause certain side effects that could affect your kidneys or liver.

For example, if you have severe diarrhea or vomiting, you may become dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to kidney problems, which could raise your risk of side effects with colchicine.

Colchicine can also cause rhabdomyolysis, which is a breakdown of damaged muscle. This side effect can lead to kidney damage if it’s not treated. To learn more about these side effects, see the “Colchicine’s side effects explained” section.

Some people taking colchicine have reported having raised liver enzymes since the drug became available. Raised liver enzymes could be a sign of liver damage. But it’s unclear how often this has happened or whether colchicine was the cause.

Colchicine is cleared from your body by your liver and kidneys. If you have liver or kidney problems, colchicine could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of the side effects noted here and others. If you have liver or kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage of colchicine for you.

If you’re concerned about how colchicine may affect your liver or kidneys, talk with your doctor.

Does the risk of side effects with colchicine vary depending on my dosage (such as 0.6 mg vs. 1.2 mg)?

It’s possible. As with many medications, higher dosages of colchicine may be more likely to cause side effects than lower dosages.

Other factors can also affect your risk of side effects with colchicine. These include:

  • your age
  • other conditions you have
  • other medications you take

If you’re concerned about your risk of side effects with your prescribed colchicine dosage, talk with your doctor.

Does colchicine cause weight loss or weight gain?

No, colchicine isn’t known to cause weight loss or weight gain. These side effects weren’t reported in studies of the drug.

Colchicine can cause digestive side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and belly pain. Your appetite may be reduced if you have these side effects, which in some cases could lead to weight loss.

If you’re concerned about changes in weight with colchicine, talk with your doctor.

Does colchicine cause any long-term side effects?

It’s possible, but this is rare. Most of colchicine’s side effects go away in a few days or weeks. Some go away soon after you stop taking the medication.

But people taking colchicine have reported having rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of damaged muscle). If you develop this side effect, it could take several months after stopping colchicine for your symptoms to lessen. This side effect could also cause long-term kidney problems. Taking colchicine for a long period of time may raise your risk of rhabdomyolysis.

To learn more about rhabdomyolysis, see the “Colchicine’s side effects explained” section.

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects with colchicine, talk with your doctor.

Is hair loss a side effect of colchicine?

It’s possible. Hair loss wasn’t reported in studies of colchicine. Since the drug became available, some people taking colchicine have reported hair loss. But it’s unclear how often this has happened or whether colchicine was the cause.

If you have hair loss or hair thinning that bothers you during colchicine treatment, talk with your doctor. They can try to determine the cause and suggest ways to manage hair loss.

Learn more about some of the side effects colchicine may cause.

Diarrhea

Some people may have diarrhea while taking colchicine. In studies, diarrhea was a common side effect reported by people taking colchicine.

Diarrhea is usually mild, but it can sometimes be severe. And if you don’t replace the fluids you lose with diarrhea, this can lead to serious problems.

Losing more fluids than usual can make you dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to kidney problems. If you develop kidney problems while taking colchicine, the medication could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of side effects.

What might help

If you have diarrhea while taking colchicine, it’s important to replace the fluids you’re losing. Drink plenty of fluids, especially after each bowel movement. You can drink plain water. But it can also be helpful to drink a rehydration solution. This might include Pedialyte or a sports drink such as Gatorade. These help replace electrolytes (minerals such as sodium) that you can lose with diarrhea.

If you have diarrhea that’s severe or doesn’t go away in a few days, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend taking a medication such as loperamide (Imodium) to treat the diarrhea. Your doctor may also have you stop taking colchicine.

Rhabdomyolysis

Colchicine may cause a serious, possibly life threatening side effect called rhabdomyolysis. With this condition, you have a breakdown of damaged muscles in your body. This can lead to a buildup of protein in your bloodstream, which may cause kidney damage.

It’s not known how often rhabdomyolysis occurs with colchicine. You may have a higher risk of this side effect if:

  • you’re age 65 years or older
  • you have kidney or liver problems
  • you take certain medications with colchicine

Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis can include:

What might help

Before taking colchicine, tell your doctor if you have a kidney or liver problem. They may prescribe a dosage of the drug that’s lower than usual. Doing so could help lower your risk of rhabdomyolysis.

To avoid interactions that can raise your risk of rhabdomyolysis, tell your doctor about any other medications, herbs, or supplements you take before starting colchicine. While taking colchicine, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications, herbs, or supplements.

You should avoid drinking grapefruit juice and eating grapefruit while taking colchicine. Consuming grapefruit can cause colchicine to build up in your body, which can raise your risk of rhabdomyolysis.

If you have symptoms of rhabdomyolysis while taking colchicine, speak with your doctor right away. This condition can be life threatening if it’s not treated quickly. Your doctor will likely have you stop taking colchicine.

Blood disorders

Colchicine may cause serious blood disorders. For example, it may cause low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets (cells that help with blood clotting).

It’s not known how often blood disorders occur with colchicine, but they are rare.

Symptoms of blood disorders may include:

  • fatigue
  • dizziness
  • frequent infection
  • fever
  • bruising easily
  • unusual bleeding, such as:
    • nosebleeds
    • bleeding gums
    • bleeding that takes longer than usual to stop

What might help

If you have any of the symptoms listed here while taking colchicine, speak with your doctor right away. They will likely do a blood test to check your blood cells. In some cases, they may have you stop taking colchicine.

Keeping track of side effects

During your colchicine treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were taking when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how colchicine affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Colchicine may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether colchicine is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting colchicine, including these factors to consider:

Kidney problems: Colchicine is removed from your body by your kidneys. If you have kidney problems, colchicine could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of serious side effects, especially rhabdomyolysis. (To learn more about this side effect, see the “Colchicine’s side effects explained” section.)

Due to the risk of side effects, your doctor will likely prescribe a lower dosage of colchicine if you have kidney problems.

Liver problems: Colchicine is broken down by your liver. If you have liver problems, colchicine could build up in your body. This could raise your risk of serious side effects. Due to this risk, your doctor may prescribe a dosage of colchicine that’s lower than usual.

Other medications: Taking colchicine with certain other medications can cause colchicine to build up in your body, especially if you have liver or kidney problems. This can raise your risk of serious, even life threatening side effects.

Due to this risk, if you have liver or kidney problems and take certain medications, your doctor may not prescribe colchicine. Before starting colchicine treatment, tell your doctor about any other medications you take. While taking colchicine, always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medication.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to colchicine or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely will not prescribe colchicine. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.

Alcohol and colchicine

Colchicine isn’t known to interact with alcohol. But drinking alcohol while taking colchicine could raise your risk of certain side effects, such as headache, nausea, or diarrhea.

Drinking alcohol can also worsen symptoms of gout, which colchicine treats. If you have gout, your doctor will likely recommend avoiding alcohol.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much (if any) may be safe to consume while you’re taking colchicine.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking colchicine

It’s not known whether colchicine is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of taking colchicine.

It’s not known whether colchicine is safe to take while breastfeeding. Colchicine can pass into breast milk. But side effects haven’t been reported in children exposed to the drug through breast milk. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before taking colchicine.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.