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Prescribe colchicine with care and be aware of colchicine drug interactions

  • Drug Reactions and Interactions
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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.

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Correspondence to Amy Zhuang-Yan.

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The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

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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.

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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

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-023-01024-x

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