What are colchicine tablets?

Colchicine tablets, sold under the brand name Colcrys or Colsalide, are used in one of two ways: either in regularly small doses to prevent attacks of gout or in large doses to treat an attack once it has begun. Colchicine works to reduce swelling and the buildup of the crystals of uric acid that lead to joint pain. Although approved to treat gout, colchicine tablets are sometimes used for other approved or off-label treatment or other diseases, including familial Mediterranean fever, amyloidosis, sarcoid arthritis, cirrhosis of the liver, pseudogout, Behcet's syndrome and pericarditis. Colchicine is not a pain medication and should not be used in place of a pain reliever.