Two probable cases of serious drug interaction between clarithromycin and colchicine.
Although colchicine is a commonly used medication in patients with gouty arthritis and various multisystem disorders, its safety margin in therapeutic use is not well understood. This report describes two fatal cases of agranulocytosis presumed to result from a drug interaction involving colchicine and clarithromycin.
Cheng
Vincent C C
VC
Centre of Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Ho
P L
PL
Yuen
K Y
KY
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000506:poisoning*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006074:Gout Suppressants; D017291:Clarithromycin; D003078:Colchicine