Colchicine should be started at the first warning of an acute attack, a delay of a few hours impairs its effectiveness. The usual adult dose is 1 or 2 tablets initially, followed by 1 tablet every 1 to 2 hours until pain is relieved or nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea develops. Some physicians prescribe 2 tablets every 2 hours. Since the number of doses required may range from 6 to 16, the total dosage is variable. As interval treatment, 1 tablet may be taken 1 to 4 times a week for the mild or moderate case, once or twice daily for the severe case. If an acute attack of gout occurs while the patient is taking colchicine as maintenance therapy, an alternative drug should be instituted in preference to increasing the dose of colchicine.
Sign Out
