Abstract
Colchicine has multiple anti-inflammatory properties and is used for a variety of disorders. As the use of colchicine expands from its approved uses (e.g. gout) to various off-label indications (e.g. pericarditis), the risk for drug–drug interactions (DDIs) to occur with colchicine increases. Colchicine is a substrate for cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and permeability glycoprotein (P-gp) and, when used concurrently with other CYP3A4 and/or P-gp inhibitors, can lead to life-threatening outcomes. This article summarises the risks associated with colchicine use, mechanisms behind adverse DDIs and various management options to minimise patient harm from colchicine DDIs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Şen S, Karahan E, Büyükulaş C, et al. Colchicine for cardiovascular therapy: a drug interaction perspective and a safety meta-analysis. Anatol J Cardiol. 2021;25(11):753–61.
Hansten PD, Tan MS, Horn JR, et al. Colchicine drug interaction errors and misunderstandings: recommendations for improved evidence-based management. Drug Saf. 2023;46(3):223–42.
Dixon DL, Patel J, Spence R, et al. Select drug-drug interactions with colchicine and cardiovascular medications: a review. Am Heart J. 2022;252:42–50.
Niel E, Scherrmann JM. Colchicine today. Jt Bone. Spine. 2006;73:672–8.
Finkelstein Y. Colchicine poisoning: the dark side of an ancient drug. Clin Toxicol. 2010;48:407–14.
Villa Zapata L, Hansten PD, Horn JR, et al. Evidence of clinically meaningful drug–drug interaction with concomitant use of colchicine and clarithromycin. Drug Saf. 2020;43:661–8.
Berl T, Wilner KD, Gardner M, et al. Pharmacokinetics of fluconazole in renal failure. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1995;6:242–7.
Su YC, Wu CC. Colchicine-induced acute neuromyopathy in a patient using concomitant fluconazole: case report and literature review. Drug Saf Case Rep. 2015;2:16.
Robinson PC, Terkeltaub R, Pillinger MH, et al. Consensus statement regarding the efficacy and safety of long-term low-dose colchicine in gout and cardiovascular disease. Am J Med. 2022;135(1):32–8.
Schwier NC, Cornelio CK, Boylan PM. A systematic review of the drug interaction between statins and colchicine: patient characteristics, etiologies, and clinical management strategies. Pharmacotherapy. 2022;42(4):320–33.
Hung IFN, Wu AKL, Cheng VCC, et al. Fatal interaction between clarithromycin and colchicine in patients with renal insufficiency: a retrospective study. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;41:291–300.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Funding
The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.
Authorship and conflict of interest
A. Zhuang-Yan and C. Kang are salaried employees of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature and declare no relevant conflicts of interest. All authors contributed to this article and are responsible for its content.
Ethics approval, Consent to participate, Consent for publication, Availability of data and material, Code availability
Not applicable.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Zhuang-Yan, A., Kang, C. Prescribe colchicine with care and be aware of colchicine drug interactions. Drugs Ther Perspect 39, 348–352 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-023-01024-x
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-023-01024-x