Colchicine is a medicine that is commonly used to treat gout, but recent studies have suggested that it could also help to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in some people
A medication frequently prescribed for gout might actually slash the chances of heart attack and stroke in certain people. Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug that can help tackle inflammation throughout the body and alleviate pain.
It’s routinely prescribed for gout sufferers as it can ease the inflammation caused by uric acid crystals that commonly accumulate in the joints of those with the condition. Usually, the medication is available as tablets and might be taken for extended periods depending on an individual’s circumstances.
Whilst the drug proves effective at relieving discomfort for gout patients, it could also prove beneficial in cutting heart attack and stroke risks. Speaking on BBC Morning Live this morning, Dr Oscar Duke shed light on how encouraging recent research into colchicine’s effectiveness in preventing strokes has been.
How effective colchicine actually is for heart attacks and strokes
He explained: “Well there’s been a big study done, what we call a systematic review, one of those ones where they look at lots of different studies. So, 12 different studies, 23,000 different people, mainly men, which of course, potentially slightly skews the results.”
He observed that research demonstrated taking colchicine for six months or longer can diminish inflammation in the joints for gout patients, particularly within blood vessels. He went on to say that this type of inflammation can trigger “thing like hearts attacks and strokes”.
He continued: “What happened in this study? Well for every 1,000 people who took colchicine for that period, they managed to reduce the number of heart attacks by nine to 1,000 people and eight for strokes. So a significant amount of reduction, of course, bu what’s really important, you could misread this headline and think, oh, maybe I should be taking some of my colchicine to reduce my risk of these things.”
Nevertheless, he emphasises that the research being highlighted concentrated on individuals who already suffered from cardiac issues, including heart disease or a previous history of heart attacks or strokes. He observed that the colchicine in these instances functions more as a ‘secondary prevention’, assisting in stopping such episodes from occurring once more.
He added: “So it’s something that we shouldn’t just be starting on our own, but it might be something that could provide some solution going forward.”
Taking colchicine if you have gout
Should you experience gout, your GP will probably prescribe colchicine for you to consume approximately two to four times daily, based on the strength and their assessment of your requirements. Usually, colchicine is supplied as a 500-microgram tablet for oral consumption; however, you might be given a smaller dose if you have kidney or liver conditions.
Normally, your GP will instruct you to use colchicine for only several days. Nevertheless, your doctor might prescribe it for an extended duration, but they will talk this through with you beforehand.
More information about colchicine can be found on the NHS website here.
