Probenecid/Colchicine, Oral proh-BEN-eh-sid KOL-chi-seen

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antigout

Generic and brand names: probenecid and colchicine, oral

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is a combination of 2 medicines taken by mouth to treat and prevent gout or gouty attacks.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• bleeding problems or a blood disorder
• heart disease
• kidney disease or kidney stones
• liver disease
• ulcers or stomach problems

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine with food or an antacid to lessen stomach upset. If stomach upset continues, tell your healthcare provider.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine, and any other medicines for gout, exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes.

You need to drink plenty of water or other liquid (10 glasses a day) to prevent kidney stones.

It may take time for this medicine to stop all gout attacks. The attacks will decrease gradually over a period of time.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, muscle weakness, burning in your throat or stomach, flushing, trouble breathing, trouble urinating, blood in your urine, confusion, seizures, nausea, coma.

What should I watch out for?

You may need to take this medicine for several months before it decreases the frequency of gout attacks. You must take it regularly for it to work. Your healthcare provider will prescribe other medicines to treat an attack.

Aspirin and other salicylates make this medicine less effective. Alcohol increases uric acid in the blood. Do not take aspirin or drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine. If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider.

If you need emergency care or surgery, tell the healthcare provider you are taking this medicine.

Your healthcare provider will follow you regularly to see how this medicine affects you and you may need to have blood tests. Keep all appointments.

Follow the diet program your healthcare provider recommends. Certain food or drinks may cause gout attacks. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Unexplained sore throat or fever; unusual bleeding or bruising; muscle pain or weakness; numbness or tingling in fingers or toes; severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting; severe stomach pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, painful urination, low back pain.

Other: Loss of appetite, headache, mild diarrhea, mild nausea or vomiting, stomach upset, dizziness, hair loss, sore gums.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• alcohol
• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antibiotics such as amoxicillin (Amoxil, Augmentin), amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate (Augmentin), ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn), cefaclor (Ceclor), cefadroxil (Duricef), cefditoren (Spectracef), cephalexin (Keflex), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin) and erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S.), dapsone, dicloxacillin (Bactocill), doripenem (Doribax), ertapenem (Invanz), gemifloxacin (Factive), imipenem (Primaxin), meropenem (Merrem), norfloxacin (Noroxin), penicillin (Veetids), pyrazinamide, and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam
• antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), stavudine (Zerit), and zidovudine (Retrovir)
• aspirin or other salicylates
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• entacapone (Comtan)
• immunosuppressant medicine such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral) and mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept)
• methotrexate (Trexall)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• oral medicines for diabetes such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase), tolazamide, and tolbutamide
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• sulfa drug combinations such as Bactrim and Septra
• tamoxifen (Nolvadex)
• vitamin B12

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. Grapefruit affects the way this medicine works and may increase the risk of side effects.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.