Colchicine is a medication used to prevent or treat gout attacks (sudden, severe pain in one or more joints caused by abnormally high levels of a substance called uric acid in the blood) in adults. It is also used to relieve the pain of gout attacks when they occur. Colchicine is not a pain reliever and cannot be used to treat pain that is not caused by gout. Additionally, colchicine is used to treat familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), an inborn condition that causes episodes of fever, pain, and swelling of the stomach area, lungs, and joints, in adults and children 4 years of age and older. Colchicine works by stopping the natural processes that cause swelling and other symptoms of gout and FMF. It is available as tablets and solution (liquid) to take by mouth with or without food. The medication starts to work after around 30 minutes to 2 hours, but it may take a day or two for the pain to start to get better. It is important to stick to the prescribed dose, as taking even a little bit more can be very serious. Drinking too much alcohol can increase the level of uric acid in the blood, which could make gout worse. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking colchicine, as they can increase the amount of colchicine in the body. Some common side effects of colchicine include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.