Lodoco
Lodoco (colchicine) is a medication that lowers the risk of stroke and heart problems in adults with risk factors for heart disease. Side effects include muscle pain and stomach problems (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain). Lodoco (colchicine) is a different medication from colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare), which is used for gout. But these two medications shouldn't be used together because they contain the same active ingredient and have the same risks.
What is Lodoco (colchicine)?
What is Lodoco (colchicine) used for?
- To lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death in adults with atherosclerotic heart disease or other risk factors for heart disease
How Lodoco (colchicine) works
Lodoco (colchicine) is an anti-inflammatory medication. It's not exactly known how Lodoco (colchicine) works to lower the risk of stroke and heart problems. But it's thought to help by lowering inflammation in the body.
Drug facts
Side effects of Lodoco (colchicine)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Muscle pain (21%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Stomach problems (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramping or pain)
Lodoco (colchicine) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Low blood cell counts: fever, tiredness, chills, cough, trouble breathing, pale skin, fast heart rate, lightheadedness, blood in your urine or stool
- Severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis): dark brown urine, severe muscle weakness or pain, fever, tiredness
The following Lodoco (colchicine) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Aplastic anemia—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing, increased bleeding or bruising
- Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Muscle injury—unusual weakness or fatigue, muscle pain, dark yellow or brown urine, decrease in amount of urine
- Pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
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Pros and cons of Lodoco (colchicine)
Pros
- Lowers the chance of major heart problems and stroke in certain adults
- Taken by mouth once per day
- Can take with or without food
Cons
- Can interact with many medications, including atorvastatin (Lipitor) and diltiazem (Cardizem)
- Can cause muscle problems and low blood cell counts
- Shouldn't take Lodoco (colchicine) and anti-gout medication colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare) together because of risk of toxicity
Pharmacist tips for Lodoco (colchicine)
- You can take Lodoco (colchicine) with or without food. But it can cause stomach problems (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain), so taking it with food might help.
- Avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while taking Lodoco (colchicine) because it can raise the amount of the medication in your body. This can raise your risk of side effects.
- If you miss a dose of Lodoco (colchicine), take it as soon as possible and then return to your regular dosing schedule. Never double up your tablets to make up for a missed dose because this can lead to side effects.
- Make sure to mark your calendar with your appointments to see your provider and to get any blood work done when you take Lodoco (colchicine). Because the medication can lower your blood cell counts, your provider might order blood work for a complete blood count (CBC) during treatment to measure the levels of different blood cells. They'll also discuss with you about any side effects you might be experiencing from the medication (e.g., muscle pain).
- Lodoco (colchicine) interacts with many medications. Some of these interactions can lead to dangerous and life-threatening side effects. Make sure to let your provider and pharmacist know about all the medications you're taking (including vitamins and supplements) before starting Lodoco (colchicine) so that they can help you check for interactions. If there are many interactions, your provider might even switch you to a different medication.
Common questions about Lodoco (colchicine)
In a study looking at how well the medication works, people who took Lodoco (colchicine) had about a 30% lower chance of heart-related death, heart attack, or stroke than people who didn't take the medication. Another recent study showed that people taking Lodoco (colchicine) had a 35% lower chance of major heart problems (e.g., heart attack) and about a 50% lower chance of stroke. It's not completely clear what effect Lodoco (colchicine) has on other heart issues or complications, like heart failure or hospitalizations from heart problems.
Lodoco and Colcrys, Mitigare, and Gloperba are brand medications that all contain colchicine as the active ingredient. The main difference is that Lodoco (colchicine) is used to lower the risk of stroke and heart problems, whereas Colcrys, Mitigare, Gloperba, and their generics are used for gout and familial Mediterranean fever. In addition, they have different dosages; the dose of Lodoco (colchicine) is 0.5 mg per day, while the dose for Colcrys, Mitigare, Gloperba, and their generics ranges from 0.3 mg to 1.8 mg per day. You should only use one colchicine medication at a time to prevent colchicine overdose.
No. Lodoco (colchicine) isn't approved to help with gout; only take Lodoco (colchicine) exactly as prescribed. If you also have gout problems, talk to your provider about your treatment options for gout. While there's a gout medication called colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare) that contains the same active ingredient as Lodoco (colchicine), they're different medications. Taking colchicine for gout and for heart and stroke protection at the same time is dangerous because this can raise your risk for a serious and life-threatening colchicine overdose.
There are many medication interactions with Lodoco (colchicine) that can be harmful. Lodoco (colchicine) shouldn't be taken with clarithroymcin, ketoconazole, itraconazole (Sporanox), nefazodone, and some HIV medications because these medications can cause high levels of Lodoco (colchicine) in your body. This can lead to severe and life-threatening side effects. There are other drug interactions that can raise your risk of side effects, such as taking Lodoco (colchicine) with fluconazole (Diflucan), diltiazem (Cardizem), statins, or fibrates. But it's possible to take these medications with Lodoco (colchicine) as long as you don't have kidney or liver problems and you're aware of the side effects to look out for. Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list of medications that interact with Lodoco (colchicine). For this reason, it's very important to tell your provider and pharmacist about all the medications and over-the-counter products you're taking or planning to take. They can help check for interactions and make sure your medications are safe to take with Lodoco (colchicine).
It might. In clinical studies with colchicine, the active ingredient of Lodoco (colchicine), about 21% of people reported that they had muscle pain. Keep in mind that taking Lodoco (colchicine) with common cholesterol medications called statins and fibrates can raise your risk for muscle pain as well. If you experience muscle pain or muscle weakness while taking Lodoco (colchicine), contact your provider. Be sure to get medical help right away if you also notice dark-colored urine or fever in addition to muscle pain because these might be signs of a serious condition called rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown).
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Risks and warnings for Lodoco (colchicine)
Lodoco (colchicine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Low blood cell counts
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that lower blood cell counts | Taking other medications that raise the amount of Lodoco (colchicine) in the body | Kidney or liver problems
Lodoco (colchicine) can lower your blood cell counts, which can be serious and life-threatening. This can raise the risk of serious infections, bleeding, and anemia. If you develop any signs of infection (e.g., fever, tiredness, chills, cough, trouble breathing) or signs of blood problems (pale skin, fast heart rate, lightheadedness, blood in your urine or stool), contact your provider right away.
Severe muscle pain and damage
- Risk factors: Taking statins or fibrates with Lodoco (colchicine) | Taking other medications that raise the amount of Lodoco (colchicine) in the body | Kidney or liver problems
Lodoco (colchicine) can cause muscle pain. It can also cause a rare, but serious and life-threatening muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis. If you notice any of symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, such as severe muscle pain, dark-colored urine, weakness, and tiredness, stop Lodoco (colchicine) and get medical attention right away.
Life-threatening overdose
Lodoco (colchicine) overdose is serious and life-threatening. Only take Lodoco (colchicine) as directed by your healthcare provider. Keep all medications, including Lodoco (colchicine), out of reach from children. Early symptoms of a Lodoco (colchicine) overdose include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration. If you think you or a loved one has overdosed on Lodoco (colchicine), call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 or get medical help right away.
Lodoco (colchicine) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5mg | 30 tablets | $393.64 | $13.12 |
Typical dosage for Lodoco (colchicine)
The typical dose is 0.5 mg by mouth once per day.
How much does Lodoco (colchicine) cost?
$393.64
Lodoco (colchicine) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Lodoco (colchicine) will not be safe for you to take.
- Using certain medications that interact with Lodoco (colchicine)
- Severe kidney or liver problems
- History of blood cell problems or low blood cell counts
Lodoco (colchicine) images
