The anti-inflammatory effect of colchicine in acute gouty arthritis is selective for this disorder. It is not a uricosuric agent and will not prevent progression of gout to chronic gouty arthritis. It does have a prophylactic, suppressive effect that helps to reduce the incidence of acute attacks and to relieve the residual pain and mild discomfort thatpatients with gout occasionally feel. The treatment of gout. Colchicine is effective in relieving the pain of acute attacks, especially if therapy is begun early in the attack and in adequate dosage.
Many therapists use colchicine as interval therapy to prevent acute attacks of gout.
Cell division in animals and plants can be arrested by colchicine. In certain species of animal under certain conditions it has produced teratogenic effects and has adversely affected spermatogenesis. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking it, the woman should be told of the potential hazard to the fetus. While such effects have not been demonstrated in humans, pertinent available information is meager. Because of the ordinarilydelayed onset of overt gout and the beginning of colchicine prophylaxis, the question is relevant only in a minority of cases.