Successful Treatment with Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine for Massive Colchicine Overdose: A Case Report.

A 42-year-old male was hospitalized 13.5 hours after ingestion of 50 mg (approximately 0.7 mg/kg) colchicine in a suicide attempt. The patient developed gastrointestinal dysfunction, grade IV myelosuppression, and restrictive respiratory failure without occurrences of cardiovascular collapse or fatal dysrhythmias. Emergency treatment with integrated Chinese and Western medicine was started and the patient fully recovered without long-term complications. This report describes a massive overdose of colchicine successfully treated with integrated Chinese and Western medicine. Current treatment options are reviewed.