Remedy · drug

Colchicine

Also: Colcrys, colchicum

A prescription anti-inflammatory derived from autumn crocus — first-line for acute gout flares.

Active compounds Colchicine (alkaloid)

Evidence by condition

Each grade reflects the research for Colchicine and that condition specifically.

A
Gout
Low-dose colchicine effectively treats an acute gout flare — as effective as high-dose, with far fewer side effects.
3 citation s
- High versus low dosing of oral colchicine for early acute gout flare (AGREE trial)
  Randomized trial 2010 · n=184 · Arthritis & Rheumatism · PMID 20131255 · DOI 10.1002/art.27327
- Colchicine
  MedlinePlus · accessed 2026-06-21
- 2020 ACR Guideline for the Management of Gout
  other · 2020 · accessed 2026-06-21

Colchicine has a narrow safety margin and is dangerous in overdose. It is prescription-only and must be dosed by a clinician, especially with kidney/liver disease or interacting drugs.

What researchers studied

These describe how the remedy was used in studies — not a dose or a recommendation.

Form studied: prescription tablets
Amounts in trials: 1.2 mg then 0.6 mg one hour later for a flare (low-dose regimen)

Safety

Caution in pregnancy

Interactions: strong CYP3A4 / P-glycoprotein inhibitors (clarithromycin, ketoconazole, cyclosporine, verapamil)
statins (rhabdomyolysis risk)
Contraindications: severe kidney or liver impairment (dose reduction required)
Side effects: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting (dose-dependent)
rare bone-marrow suppression / neuromyopathy; fatal in overdose

Safety data is not exhaustive. Always check with a clinician or pharmacist before combining remedies or medications.

Tradition vs. evidence

Traditional use is context, not proof. Here is what older systems claim, and how modern research treats it.

Western herbalismEvidence aligns
From the autumn crocus, used for gout since antiquity — a traditional remedy now a standard drug.