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Colchicine tablets are a prescription treatment for acute gout flares, providing fast-acting relief from the severe pain and inflammation of gout attacks.
Order before 3pm — same-day dispatch (MON - FRI)
~5 min consultation
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Suitable age
18 years +
Max per order
1 month supply
Consultation
Yes — free online
Colchicine is a prescription anti-inflammatory medicine used to treat acute attacks of gout. It works by reducing the inflammatory response triggered by uric acid crystals depositing in and around joints, providing fast-acting relief from the intense pain, swelling, and redness associated with gout flares. Unlike non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine is often preferred for patients who cannot tolerate ibuprofen or naproxen, including those with kidney impairment or peptic ulcer disease.
Colchicine has been used to treat gout for over a century and is recommended by NICE and the British Society for Rheumatology as a first-line treatment for acute gout attacks. It is most effective when taken at the first sign of a flare — the sooner treatment is started, the faster the attack is likely to resolve. Colchicine tablets are taken orally and are available in a 500 microgram (mcg) strength.
Buy Colchicine online from Access Doctor — UK registered pharmacy (GPhC No. 9011198) with a prescription, automatic GP notification included, and discreet home delivery.
| Active ingredient | Colchicine |
| Medicine type | Prescription-only medicine (POM) |
| Available strengths | 500 micrograms (mcg) |
| How to take | Orally, with or without food |
| Treatment type | Short-term (acute gout flare) |
| Consultation | Yes — free online |
| Delivery | Discreet home delivery |
Colchicine works by interfering with the inflammatory cycle that causes the pain and swelling of a gout attack. During a gout flare, uric acid crystals form in a joint, triggering white blood cells (neutrophils) to migrate into the joint to attack the crystals. This process releases inflammatory chemicals that cause the severe pain, heat, redness, and swelling characteristic of gout.
Colchicine disrupts this process by binding to a protein called tubulin, which is essential for neutrophil movement. By preventing neutrophils from migrating to the joint, colchicine reduces the inflammatory response at the source. It also inhibits the release of inflammatory chemicals (cytokines) and reduces the activation of the inflammasome — a key driver of the intense inflammation seen in gout attacks.
Unlike NSAIDs, colchicine does not lower uric acid levels or prevent the formation of crystals. It is purely an anti-inflammatory treatment for use during an acute attack. It is most effective when started at the first sign of a flare — early treatment typically results in faster resolution of symptoms.
Colchicine is used to treat acute attacks of gout. It works as an anti-inflammatory medicine, reducing the severe pain, swelling, and redness caused by uric acid crystals in the joints. It is not a urate-lowering treatment and does not prevent gout attacks in the long term — for that, your prescriber may recommend medicines such as allopurinol.
Most people notice an improvement in symptoms within 12 to 24 hours of starting colchicine. Taking it at the very first sign of a gout attack gives the best chance of rapid relief. If symptoms have not improved after a few days, contact your prescriber.
You should not routinely take colchicine alongside NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen unless specifically directed by your prescriber. Taking multiple anti-inflammatory medicines together increases the risk of side effects. Always tell your prescriber about all medicines you are taking.
Gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting are the most common side effects of colchicine. If you develop severe diarrhoea or vomiting, stop taking colchicine and contact your prescriber or pharmacist. Do not take more tablets to try to push through the symptoms.
There is no specific interaction between colchicine and alcohol, but alcohol can raise uric acid levels and make gout attacks more frequent. It is advisable to avoid or limit alcohol, particularly beer, spirits, and other drinks high in purines, during a gout attack and while managing gout.
Colchicine is not suitable for patients with severe kidney impairment (eGFR below 10 mL/min). Patients with moderate kidney impairment should use colchicine with caution and at a reduced dose as directed by their prescriber. Tell your prescriber about any kidney problems before starting colchicine.
Yes — colchicine has several important interactions. It should be used with great caution (or avoided entirely) alongside P-glycoprotein inhibitors and CYP3A4 inhibitors, including ciclosporin, clarithromycin, ritonavir, erythromycin, verapamil, and diltiazem, as these can significantly increase colchicine blood levels and the risk of serious toxicity. It also interacts with statins, increasing the risk of muscle damage. Always tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all medicines you are taking.
Yes, colchicine can be prescribed at a low prophylactic dose (usually 500 mcg once or twice daily) by your prescriber to help prevent gout flares during the initiation of urate-lowering therapy such as allopurinol. However, this is a separate use from treating an acute attack and should only be taken as directed.
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