A Case of Colchicine Intoxication Presenting as Acute Gastroenteritis

ABSTRACT

A 47-year-old woman ingested about 12 mg of colchicine with suicidal intent. Colchicine, a highly poisonous alkaloid, is a commonly used treatment for gout, Bechet's disease, and familial Mediterranean fever. Despite the knowledge of its side effects, the risk of a significant overdose is under-appreciated. She suffered from acute multisystem toxicity, including gastrointestinal disorders, bone marrow suppression, alopecia, and probable pancreatitis, but she ultimately recovered with supportive therapy. We report a case of acute colchicine toxicity from a single overdose with a review of the literature.