New research claims that a drug for gout may be able to reduce the death risk from Covid-19 as high as 50%.
Colchicine is an ancient drug derived from the Colchicum family of plants, which was first used for its special healing properties by the ancient Greeks.
It began to be widely used from about the first century AD as a treatment for gout and other inflammatory conditions, and is one of a few medicines that have survived into modern times, according to experts from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The effects of the drug have been studied in four studies that involved over 6,000 coronavirus victims. All showed a clear benefit.
Researchers from Israel analysed these studies and found a significant improvement in severe coronavirus indexes. Most importantly, the mortality rate was lower by around 50% than those not receiving colchicine.
According to researchers, this discovery is important because it is inexpensive and only requires half a milligram daily.
Previous research has shown mixed results regarding the effects of this drug. While some studies found significant benefits (as was here), others did not.
In November, an Indian study concluded that there was no benefit in using the drug for Covid-19.
While some studies have shown promise for colchicine, an Indian research team discovered that the drug does not protect against Covid-19.
What is colchicine? Colchicine is a 30p medication that’s used to treat gout.
Systemic inflammation is treated with and prevented by colchicine. This includes gout, the worst forms of coronavirus and severe cases.
Colchicine can be used to treat inflammation and pain.
These pills can be used to manage flare-ups and attacks of gout.
It is also used to prevent increased flare-ups of gout when a patient first starts on a medicine like allopurinol – taken to manage the condition in the long term.
Colchicine is also prescribed to prevent flare-ups of symptoms of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) – an inherited inflammatory condition.
One 0.5mg tablet is the usual dosage for gout. It should be taken between two and four times per day.
When taking colchicine, patients should avoid grapefruit juice and grapefruit juice.
It is more gentle on the stomach for some patients if the tablets are taken after or with food.
Avoiding it during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.
For this new research, Prof Ami Schattner came at it from a different perspective, focusing on all patients treated in controlled trials with the ancient drug for any purpose over the past 20 years, rather than just treated for Covid-19.
He reviewed four studies that were focused on coronavirus. They involved 6,000 patients. Each one showed a significant improvement in their health after taking the drug.
Schattner says colchicine working to improve the outcome of Covid-19 patients is ‘an important discovery that could significantly contribute to improving the morbidity and mortality of many patients, if confirmed in further studies.’
Because it’s cheap and causes minimal side effects (e.g. diarrhoea) in patients, this is a good thing.
The Israeli team carried out studies all over the world including Canada, Greece Spain, Brazil, and Spain.
Schattner stated that all of them were double-blind placebo trials, making them more precise.
Schattner said that additional randomised trials will be needed to validate the results from this preliminary study.
According to him, it will likely lead to an increase in low-dose colchicine use for the treatment coronavirus sufferers.
A meta-analysis was performed by six Indian studies, which included six trials that evaluated colchicine’s effectiveness in preventing severe infections. It was done by GMERS Medical College Gotri (India)
Colchicine is not associated with a lower risk of death, increased need for ventilatory care, hospitalizations in intensive care units, or shortened stays among Covid-19-treated patients, according to researchers.
Colchicine is not an additional treatment option for patients suffering from Covid-19.
The drug was also tested in four studies to see if it could lower hospital stay rates for patients with Covid-19.
There have been four controlled trials that analyzed the effects of the drug. Each study involved 6,000 patients with coronavirus.
These combined data showed no differences in the mortality rates between people who took colchicine and others who did not.
A large British trial stopped enrollments to colchicine for potential treatments of patients with Covid-19 in March.
After a sub-study, it was determined that the drug had no effect on patients.
Schattner however, says that his results look’very promising’. It is worth further exploration.
‘Even though initial data on the effect of colchicine on coronavirus patients is very promising, more patients need to be in randomised controlled trials,’ Schattner told the Jerusalem Post.
“But, that wouldn’t stop me from using drug in high-risk patients to try and lower their chance of getting severe diseases.
He stated that the drug was affordable for patients as well as the community. We have much to gain by using the drug in corona patients.
Some gout medications have been suggested as possible Covid-19 remedies since the beginning of the pandemic.
Gout drugs often contain anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce side effects of Covid-19.
Previous studies identified colchicine as a drug that could reduce inflammation related to Covid-19 and help patients.
Another anti-inflammatory drug used to treat gout, probenecid, has also showed a promising ability to combat Covid-19, though further research is needed.