HERBAL MONOGRAPHS COLCHICUM AUTUMNALE / 207gout and familial Mediterranean fever. Efficacy for these
uses appears plausible. The drug was previously used for
skin tumors, condyloma, psoriasis, necrotic vasculitis, tendo-
vaginitis, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, morbus
^ Behect, liver cirrhosis, acute and chronic leukemia; also for
lice, asthma, dropsy and rheumatism.Homeopathic Uses: In addition to acute and chronic gout,
Colchici is also used for inflammation of the kidney and
gastrointestinal tract, bodily secretions, tendovaginitis and
acute joint rheumatism. Efficacy has not been proven.
PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS
General: The drugs are severely poisonous. Signs of
poisoning, including stomachaches, diarrhea, nausea, vomit-
ing and, less frequently, stomach and intestinal hemorrhages,
can occur even with the administration of therapeutic
dosages.Kidney and liver damage, hair loss, peripheral nerve
inflammation, myopathia and bone marrow damage with
their resulting symptoms (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia,
megaloblastic anemia, and, more rarely, aplastic anemia)
have been observed following long-term administration.
4
Pregnancy: Colchicum is not to be used during pregnancy
because of possible teratogenic damage. This also has been
noted following intake of the drug by the father before
conception.
OVERDOSAGE
Three to 6 hours following intake of acutely toxic dosages,
burning of the mouth, difficulty swallowing and thirst
appear. After 12 to 14 hours, the following appear: nausea,
severe stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea, bladder spasms,
hematuria, falling blood pressure and spasms, and later,
progressive paralysis. Death follows through exhaustion,
asphyxiation or circulatory collapse. The fatal dosage for an
adult is 5 g of the seeds, 1 to 1.5 g for a child. The fatal
dosage of an intake of colchicine lies between 7 mg and 200
mg.The treatment for poisonings, following gastric lavage and
the administration of a saline purgative (such as sodium
sulfate), proceeds symptomatically (diazepam for convul-
sion, atropine for intestinal spasm) and includes possible
^ intubation and oxygen respiration.
DOSAGE
COLCHICUM BULBS, SEEDS AND FLOWERS
Mode of Administration: Comminuted drug, freshly pressed
juice and other galenic preparations taken orally.How Supplied: Ampules, tablets.
Daily Dosage: For an acute attack of gout, an initial oral
dose corresponding to 1 mg colchicine, followed by 0.5 to1.5 mg every 1 to 2 hours until pain subsides. Total daily
dosage must not exceed 8 mg of colchicine. For prophylactic
and therapeutic purposes, the dosage should correspond to
0.5 to 1.5 mg of colchicine.Storage: All forms of the drug should be stored in containers
that protect them from light and dampness. In addition, the
seeds should be stored over lime.
LITERATURE
Fell KR. Ramsden D, (1967) Lloydia 30:123.
Gasisc O, Potesilova H, Santavy F, PM 30:75-81. 1976.
Grobner W, Wlater-Sack I, Gicht und ihre medikamentose
Therapie. In: DAZ 131(35):1789. 1991.
Heide L, Traditionelle Arzneipflanzen in der Gesundsheitsver-
sorgung der Dritten Welt. Moglichkeiten und Grenzen. In: DAZ
133(23):2067. 1993.
Potesilova H, Coll Czech Chem Comm 32:141-157. 1967.
Santavy F, Reichstein T, Helv Chim Acta 33:1606-1627. 1950.
Santavy F, Talas M, Coll Czech Chem Comm 19:141-152.
1954.
Santavy F et al., PM 43:153-160. 1981.
Santavy F et al.. Coll Czech Chem Comm 48:2989-2993. 1983.
Santavy F, (1957) Pharm Zentralhalle 96:307.
Ulrichova J et al.. Biochemical evaluation of colchicine and
related analogs. In: PM 59(29): 144. 1993.
Further information in:
Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss.
Verlagsges. mbH Stuttgart 1997.
Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers
Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6
(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-
1994.
Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug
Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.
Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,- Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.
mbH Stuttgart 1997.
Colchicum autumnale
See Colchicum