{"id":636031,"date":"2026-05-07T09:30:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T13:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=636031"},"modified":"2026-04-30T16:36:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T20:36:39","slug":"foods-to-avoid-when-taking-colchicine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/foods-to-avoid-when-taking-colchicine\/","title":{"rendered":"6 foods to avoid when taking colchicine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Colchicine<\/span><\/a> (brand names:<\/span> Mitigare<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Gloperba<\/span><\/a>, and Colcrys) is an anti-inflammatory prescription drug used to prevent and<\/span> treat gout<\/span><\/a>. It is also Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and is sometimes prescribed<\/span> off-label<\/span><\/a> for other inflammatory conditions, such as the prevention of stroke or heart attack.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re taking colchicine, it’s important to know that it can interact with <\/span>many <\/span>medications<\/span> and grapefruit<\/span>. Certain foods can also worsen side effects or trigger or worsen gout symptoms. It can also cross the placenta in pregnant individuals and is found in breast milk.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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How colchicine works<\/span><\/h2>\n

Gout develops when a build-up of uric acid forms crystals that settle into the joints instead of being removed through the kidneys, according to<\/span> Troy Alexander-El, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified internal medicine provider based in Portland, Oregon. This can cause a “gout attack” characterized by redness, swelling, and severe pain centered on the affected joint.<\/span><\/p>\n

Colchicine<\/span><\/a> helps with gout in two ways: As an <\/span>anti-inflammatory drug<\/span><\/a>, it reduces redness, pain, and swelling during a gout attack. It also prevents white blood cells from “attacking” uric acid crystals associated with gout, thus helping prevent a gout flare. Colchicine works quickly, too. It reduces inflammation within hours and significantly improves pain<\/span> within 48 hours<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6 foods to avoid with colchicine<\/span><\/h2>\n

Like many medications, colchicine can interact with grapefruit, so it’s important to avoid the fruit and its juice while on this drug. Colchicine can also cause nausea, so it’s best to limit greasy and spicy foods. You should also limit high-purine foods such as beef and organ meats, as purine can raise uric acid levels, which can cause or worsen<\/span> gout<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Limit or avoid the following foods when taking colchicine:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Grapefruit\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Grapefruit interacts with many medicines and supplements, and Dr. Alexander-El says that includes colchicine. Grapefruit inhibits the liver enzyme CYP3A4, which breaks down colchicine and other drugs. Consuming too much grapefruit and grapefruit juice can keep your body from metabolizing colchicine, potentially leading to<\/span> dangerously high levels<\/span><\/a>, according to<\/span> Annamarie Rodriguez, RDN,<\/span><\/a> a dietitian specializing in kidney health and owner of Nutrition Directions LLC in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. It is generally best to avoid consuming grapefruit while taking colchicine; however, there are some circumstances in which your health care provider may adjust the dose if you are consuming grapefruit products.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. High-purine foods<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you’re taking colchicine to prevent or stop a gout attack, high-purine foods will undermine your treatment plan. “Gout flare-ups result from the build-up of uric acid in the joints. Thus, purine-rich foods need to be avoided as these<\/span> lead to<\/span><\/a> increased uric acid levels,” Rodriguez says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

High-purine foods<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n