colcrys

How long does Colchicine stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of colchicine is about 27 to 31 hours (the label gives mean elimination half-lives of 26.6 to 31.2 hours in young healthy volunteers on 0.6 mg twice daily) — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the elimination (terminal) half-life the label reports after multiple oral doses; a separate single-dose study in the same label gives an apparent elimination half-life of about 25 hours in young adults. Colchicine is not a prodrug, and it has no active metabolite that outlasts it — it is demethylated by CYP3A4 to 2-O- and 3-O-demethylcolchicine, but the label states plasma levels of these metabolites are minimal (less than 5% of parent drug). Because colchicine recirculates through bile and gut, the label notes secondary plasma peaks 3 to 36 hours after a dose. Older adults: in the same single-dose study, subjects aged 60 to 70 had an apparent elimination half-life of about 30 hours (SD ±10.8) versus about 25 hours in those aged 18 to 30, and an older published report found peak levels and AUC roughly twice as high in elderly women, likely from reduced kidney function. Kidney impairment: the label says the pharmacokinetics in mild and moderate renal impairment are not known; in a published report of patients with familial Mediterranean fever and end-stage renal disease on dialysis, clearance was 75% lower and the plasma elimination half-life was prolonged (18.8 hours versus 4.4 hours in FMF patients with normal renal function — note these baseline figures come from that separate study, not from the healthy-volunteer numbers above). Colchicine is not removed by hemodialysis. Liver impairment: published data show wide variability; in some people with mild to moderate cirrhosis, clearance is significantly reduced and plasma half-life prolonged, and no pharmacokinetic data exist for severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). This is a pharmacokinetic figure only — it is not a drug-test detection window and not dosing guidance.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: DailyMed — COLCHICINE tablet, Full Prescribing Information, §12.3 Pharmacokinetics.

Frequently asked questions

What does Colcrys treat?

Colcrys (Colchicine) may be used to treat amyloidosis, gout, biliary liver cirrhosis, familial mediterranean fever, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How much does Colcrys cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $3.90 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Colcrys?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Colcrys. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Colcrys?

Colcrys is marketed by Ar Holding Co Inc. You can see Ar Holding Co Inc's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Colcrys a brand-name or generic drug?

Colcrys is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Colchicine.

Is Colcrys available over the counter?

No. Colcrys is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Colcrys come in?

Colcrys is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Colcrys?

Colcrys is classified as alkaloid, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Colcrys FDA-registered?

Colcrys is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA022351. You can verify this on its official FDA label.