What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Colchicine and erythromycin
Colchicine's FDA label (Lodoco) of August 13, 2026 names erythromycin in its drug interactions section, and erythromycin's label names colchicine too. The colchicine label: “Significant increase in colchicine plasma concentration is anticipated.”
Check it at the source: the colchicine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 22, 2025, Aurobindo Pharma Limited); the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the colchicine label say about erythromycin?
Lodoco label (AGEPHA Pharma USA, LLC, August 13, 2026), drug interactionsDrug class: Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors amprenavir aprepitant diltiazem erythromycin fluconazole, fosamprenavir (prodrug of amprenavir) verapamil; Outcome/effect: Significant increase in colchicine plasma concentration is anticipated.; Clinical comment: Monitor patients receiving moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors for signs of colchicine toxicity. Avoid use in patients with existing renal or hepatic impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5)].
Gloperba label (Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc., November 1, 2024), drug interactionsToxicities have also been reported when colchicine is administered with inhibitors of CYP3A4 that may not be potent inhibitors of P-gp (e.g., grapefruit juice, erythromycin, verapamil), or inhibitors of P-gp that may not be potent inhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., cyclosporine).
Source: FDA drug label (Lodoco, NDA215727), AGEPHA Pharma USA, LLC, effective August 13, 2026 (SPL set ff06d68f-d65f-d097-e053-6294a90a7e5f), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Gloperba, NDA210942), Scilex Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective November 1, 2024 (SPL set 467cd83f-d695-4040-9434-10e80b4271da), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Colchicine), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective July 22, 2025 (SPL set dd93a40f-92ab-47ac-9083-b8a7a0b18ad6), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the erythromycin label say about colchicine?
Erythromycin label, drug interactionsA significant increase in colchicine plasma concentration is anticipated when co-administered with moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors such as erythromycin.
Erythromycin label, warningsThese include colchicine toxicity with colchicine; rhabdomyolysis with simvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin; and hypotension with calcium channel blockers metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem) (see PRECAUTIONS - Drug Interactions ).
Ery-Ped label (Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Arbor Pharmaceuticals), December 16, 2023), drug interactionsFatalities have been reported. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS .) Colchicine Colchicine is a substrate for both CYP3A4 and the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp).
Source: FDA drug label (Ery-Ped, NDA050207), Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Arbor Pharmaceuticals), effective December 16, 2023 (SPL set 04775721-ab87-4b66-808c-d67a21032385), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Erythromycin), Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective August 1, 2024 (SPL set 75a0bd5a-d09f-483b-bfd8-f8343b149eb2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Colchicine | Erythromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Gout | Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.122 per tablet 0.6 mg tablet | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once