Colchicine

Date: May 2025, Version 1.0

Quick read

Colchicine can be used in pregnancy if recommended by a specialist.

What is it?

Colchicine is used to treat some autoimmune diseases (familial Mediterranean fever and Behçet's disease), as well as gout.

Benefits

What are the benefits of using colchicine in pregnancy?

Colchicine can keep some autoimmune diseases under control. This can help you to remain well and may also reduce the chance of pregnancy complications like miscarriage, preterm birth, and low infant birth weight. Gout is rare in pregnant women but it is important that it is well-treated as it can be very painful.

Risks

What are the risks of using colchicine in pregnancy?

The available information does not raise concern that use of colchicine in pregnancy causes problems.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to using colchicine in pregnancy?

Possibly. If you are taking colchicine and planning a pregnancy or find out you are pregnant, you should speak to your doctor to see if you need to switch to a different medicine. However, if colchicine was working well before pregnancy, you may be advised to continue taking it. This will benefit both you and your baby by ensuring that your health condition remains well-controlled.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?

It is very important that autoimmune diseases and gout are treated properly during pregnancy. Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when necessary and will be happy to talk about any concerns.

Will I or my baby need extra monitoring?

As part of routine antenatal care, most women will be offered a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check the baby’s development. No additional monitoring is required due to taking colchicine in pregnancy, although women with autoimmune diseases are likely to be offered additional monitoring of their own and their baby’s wellbeing.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has used colchicine?

There is no evidence that colchicine used by the father can harm your baby through effects on the sperm.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions about the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.