Management overview for colchicine poisoning

Colchicine poisoning is uncommon in Australia. Most cases involve acute deliberate ingestion. Occasionally, patients unintentionally take supratherapeutic doses or are prescribed a higher dose than recommended.

Colchicine is a highly cytotoxic drug that inhibits mitosis of dividing cells and has no antidote. In severe poisonings, multiorgan failure can occur and even the best supportive care may not be life saving. If colchicine poisoning is suspected, urgently contact a clinical toxicologist or poisons information centre (13 11 26). Early gastrointestinal decontamination with activated charcoal is critical. Enhanced elimination with multiple-dose activated charcoal can also be used depending on the dose ingested and other risk factors for toxicity.

Children rarely ingest toxic doses of colchicine. Any child who is suspected of ingesting colchicine and has gastrointestinal symptoms should be assessed in hospital.

Rarely, colchicine poisoning occurs following ingestion of plants that contain colchicine alkaloids (eg Colchicum autumnale [autumn crocus]). Ingestion of the plant material may be accidental, or intentional as a complementary therapy. For management of poisoning from plants that contain colchicine alkaloids, see Colchicine poisoning from plants.