Taghavi, S.A., Shabani, S., Mehramiri, A., Eshraghian, A., Kazemi, S.M., Moeini, M., . . . Mostaghni, A.A. (2010). Colchicine is effective for short-term treatment of slow transit constipation: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 25, 389–394.
To explore the effectiveness of colchicine in patients with slow-transit constipation not relieved with previous treatment.
Patients with refractory constipation were referred from gastroenterology clinics affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Patients initially were screened to rule out structural constipation, and transit time was measured. Patients were randomly assigned to colchicines 1 mg daily for two months (group A) or placebo starch capsule daily for two months (group B). Study assessments were done every two weeks for eight weeks.
This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.
Knowles Eccersley Scott Symptom (KESS) scoring system
Colchicine administration showed effectiveness in select populations.
Colchicine may be effective for short-term use in the treatment of slow-transit constipation, but further studies are needed to assess its effectiveness in an oncology population with chronic opioid use.