Product Details

Description

Colcrys For Gout

COLCRYS is a prescription medication generally used to treat acute flairs in patients with gout. This medication can also treat several medical conditions including recurrent and painful form of arthritis in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF); and an inherited inflammatory disorder.

Acute gout can cause severe inflammation with the presence of uric acid crystals that form in bony joints. This causes severe pain, redness, and swelling of the affected joint(s). COLCRYS is useful in suppressing inflammation caused by gout.

Important: COLCRYS is not an analgesic (pain killer), but it reduces pain caused by gout.

Directions

Take COLCRYS by mouth with or without food, exactly as directed by your doctor. Dosing recommendations will vary and differ depending on the patient’s medical condition, other drugs/foods you may be taking, and response to treatment.

If your doctor directs you to take COLCRYS, use it regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while being treated with this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Grapefruit can increase the amount of certain medications in your bloodstream. If you are taking this medication to treat symptoms due to familial Mediterranean fever, tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Taking more than the recommended dose may not increase this drug’s effectiveness and may increase your risk for side effects.

Cautions

• do not share this medication with others
• being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, and eating certain foods may worsen gout symptoms.
• limit alcohol intake
• avoid foods high in purines that may worsen gout (such as anchovies, bacon, beer, sardines, organ meats including liver/kidneys)
• medical tests (such as blood tests, kidney function, liver function) may be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects

Side Effects

All medications may cause side effects, but usually patients have no, or minor, side effects. Common side effects may include:

• nausea or vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• hair loss
• weakness
• nerve irritation

One of the most worrisome side effects of COLCRYS is that it can damage the bone marrow causing severe anemia, low white blood counts, and low platelets. Reduced white blood cell counts may increase the risk of infections. All patients taking COLCRYS long-term require monitoring of their blood counts. COLCRYS also may cause muscle pain (myopathy) or severe muscle breakdown.

To reduce your risk for serious side effects, do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or take it for a longer time than directed by your doctor. Serious side effects may occur even at usual prescribed doses. The above noted side effects may not require medical attention and may slowly decrease over time as your body adjusts to the medication. Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.