Deutivacaftor and Colchicine: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 2, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Colchicine
Deutivacaftor
No brand names on record
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
Here's what's going on. Your body uses a kind of "pump" (called P-gp) to move colchicine along and help clear it out. Deutivacaftor slows that pump down. When the pump slows, more colchicine can build up in your body than usual.
Colchicine works well at the right level, but too much can cause problems like stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, or muscle aches. Because colchicine is a drug where even small changes matter, this is worth taking seriously. The good news: your care team can manage this by tailoring your colchicine dose and watching you more closely. Please talk with your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.
Mechanism: Deutivacaftor inhibits P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mediated efflux. Colchicine is a P-gp substrate with a narrow therapeutic index, so inhibition raises colchicine systemic exposure (AUC/Cmax) and the risk of dose-related toxicity.
- Direction: increased colchicine effect/exposure
- Severity: major; evidence: probable; onset: unspecified
- Toxicity to watch: GI (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), myopathy, myelosuppression, neuromuscular effects
Management: Colchicine dosing may need to be reduced and individualized; consider more frequent monitoring for adverse reactions. Use particular caution in hepatic or renal impairment, where colchicine toxicity risk is amplified.
What happens
Increased exposure to P-gp substrates and increased risk of P-gp substrates-related adverse effects
Interaction Deep Dive
When deutivacaftor is given together with P-gp substrates that have a narrow therapeutic index (NTI), the exposure to those P-gp substrates rises, potentially heightening the likelihood of adverse reactions tied to these substrates. Increase the frequency of monitoring for such adverse reactions1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of P-gp mediated efflux transport by deutivacaftor
How to manage this interaction
How your care team typically handles this:
- They may adjust your colchicine dose (individualized to you) since exposure can rise.
- They will likely monitor you more closely for side effects.
What you should do:
- Keep taking both medicines exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise.
- Tell your pharmacist or doctor that you take both drugs so they can plan for it.
- Report side effects like ongoing diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, unusual muscle pain or weakness, or numbness and tingling.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) In a study evaluating drug interactions, taking tezacaftor 100 mg once daily and ivacaftor 150 mg twice daily together with a single 0.5 mg dose of digoxin (a sensitive P-gp substrate) led to a 130% rise in digoxin AUC and a 132% rise in Cmax 1.
Common questions
Can I take Deutivacaftor and Colchicine together?
Deutivacaftor can raise colchicine levels by slowing the P-gp pump that clears it, so watch for colchicine side effects and let your care team adjust the dose and monitor you. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Deutivacaftor and Colchicine interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Deutivacaftor and Colchicine interaction managed?
How your care team typically handles this: They may adjust your colchicine dose (individualized to you) since exposure can rise. They will likely monitor you more closely for side effects. What you should do: Keep taking both medicines exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Tell your pharmacist or doctor that you take both drugs so they can plan for it. Report side effec… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Deutivacaftor or Colchicine need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (1)
- Product Information: ALYFTREK(R) oral tablets, vanzacaftor, tezacaftor, and deutivacaftor oral tablets. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (per FDA), Boston, MA, 2024. DailyMed
Keep reading about Colchicine
Keep reading about Deutivacaftor
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
Check another combination
Our instant two-drug interaction checker is almost here.
Still have questions about this combination?
Every question gets a real answer from a licensed pharmacist — free, and usually within a day.
Ask the pharmacist