Colchicine in acute gout: Optimal dose of colchicine is still elusive

doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7434.288-c

BMJ 2004;328:288 (31 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7434.288-c

Letter

Colchicine in acute gout

Optimal dose of colchicine is still elusive

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Morris et al discussed the use of low dose colchicinein gout.¹ The treatment dose of colchicine, which has remainedat 1 mg initially, followed by 500 µg every 2-3 hoursfor many years, should be reviewed. However, they are incorrectto say that the current BNF (British National Formulary) recommendsa regimen for colchicine that is unchanged since the 1966 edition.

In September 1999 the BNF reduced the total dose of a courseof colchicine from 10 mg to 6 mg.² Before 1981 the BNF did noteven state the higher limit of 10 mg.

The decision to reduce the total dose of colchichine to 6 mgwas taken because of expert advice given to the BNF.³ The formularycommittee reported that it found little evidence to supportthe use of the total dose of 10 mg and that a total dose of6 . . . [Full text of this article]

Anthony R Cox, pharmacist

City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH coxar@hotmail.com