azithromycin vs colchicine
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Side-by-side comparison of azithromycin and colchicine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
7.3 Potential Drug-Drug Interaction with Macrolides Interactions with digoxin, colchicine or phenytoin have not been reported in clinical trials with azithromycin. Until further data are developed regarding drug interactions when digoxin, colchicine or phenytoin are used with azithromycin careful monitoring of patients is advised.
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Colcrys, Mitigare
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria. It is used to treat many different types of infections.
Colchicine is a medicine used to prevent or treat gout flares and Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). It works by reducing inflammation and pain.
Azithromycin treats mild to moderate infections caused by certain bacteria. In adults, it can treat bronchitis, sinus infections, skin infections, urethritis, cervicitis, and genital ulcers. In children over 6 months old, it can treat ear infections and pneumonia. It can also treat pharyngitis/tonsillitis in children 2 years and older.
Colchicine is used to prevent and treat gout flares in adults. Gout flares cause sudden, severe pain, redness, and swelling in your joints. Colchicine is also used to treat Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in adults and children ages 4 and older. FMF causes recurring fevers and pain in the abdomen, chest, or joints.
Azithromycin belongs to a class of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. This helps your body fight off the infection.
Colchicine reduces inflammation in the body. It does this by blocking certain processes that cause swelling and pain. This helps to relieve gout flares and manage FMF symptoms.
- • Diarrhea (5-14%)
- • Nausea (3-18%)
- • Abdominal pain (3-7%)
- • Vomiting (2-7%)
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- Dyspnoea 3,059
- Nausea 2,232
- Pain 2,205
- Pneumonia 2,085
- Cough 2,031
- Diarrhoea 2,660
- Nausea 1,940
- Fatigue 1,747
- Dyspnoea 1,467
- Acute Kidney Injury 1,436
This drug can cause serious allergic reactions, liver problems, and heart rhythm changes. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, like rash or swelling. Also, tell your doctor if you have liver problems, heart problems, or muscle weakness.
Taking too much colchicine can be fatal in both adults and children. Keep this medicine out of the reach of children. Colchicine can also cause serious blood problems and muscle weakness. Certain medicines can interact with colchicine and cause life-threatening problems. Talk to your doctor about all the medicines you take.
Studies haven't shown major risks to the baby during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Colchicine may harm your unborn baby. It is not known if colchicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking colchicine while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This azithromycin vs colchicine Comparison
azithromycin is classified in the Macrolide Antibiotic drug class, while colchicine sits within the Anti-Gout Agent class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, azithromycin has 11,612 submissions while colchicine has 9,250. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to it is not yet known exactly how these drugs interact, but azithromycin may potentially change the levels of colchicine in your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for azithromycin or colchicine.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.