What are the recommended aspirin and colchicine dosing regimens for an adult with acute myopericarditis who has no contraindications to non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs?

Myopericarditis Treatment: Aspirin and Colchicine Dosing

For acute myopericarditis, initiate high-dose aspirin 500–1,000 mg every 6–8 hours combined with weight-adjusted colchicine (0.5 mg twice daily if ≥70 kg; 0.5 mg once daily if <70 kg) for a minimum of 3 months. 1

Aspirin Dosing Regimen

• Initial dose: 500–1,000 mg every 6–8 hours (total daily dose 1.5–4 g/day) 1
• Continue until: Complete symptom resolution and normalization of C-reactive protein (CRP) 1
• Tapering strategy: Reduce by 250–500 mg every 1–2 weeks once symptoms resolve and CRP normalizes 1
• Typical duration: 1–2 weeks for uncomplicated cases, though myopericarditis may require longer courses 1
• Gastroprotection: Mandatory with proton pump inhibitor or H2-blocker 1, 2

Colchicine Dosing Regimen

Weight-Based Dosing

• ≥70 kg: 0.5 mg twice daily 1, 3
• <70 kg: 0.5 mg once daily 1, 3
• Minimum duration: 3 months for acute myopericarditis 1, 3, 4
• No loading dose: Current guidelines recommend starting at maintenance dose without loading 1, 3

Renal and Hepatic Adjustments

• Severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min): Contraindicated; if absolutely necessary, maximum 0.3 mg once daily with extreme caution 3
• Moderate renal impairment (CrCl 30–50 mL/min): Use standard weight-based dosing but monitor closely for toxicity 3
• Dialysis patients: Maximum 0.3 mg twice weekly 3
• Severe hepatic impairment: Reduce dose and monitor liver enzymes closely 1, 3
• Drug interactions: Reduce dose with P-glycoprotein or moderate-to-severe CYP3A4 inhibitors 1

Critical Treatment Principles

Combination Therapy is Mandatory

• Colchicine must never be used as monotherapy—it is only effective when combined with aspirin or NSAIDs 3, 5
• Adding colchicine to aspirin/NSAIDs reduces recurrence from 37.5% to 16.7% (number needed to treat = 4) 4
• This combination provides a 56% relative risk reduction in recurrence at 18 months 3, 5

Tapering Prerequisites

• Do not begin tapering until:
  • Complete resolution of chest pain and all pericarditic symptoms 3
  • CRP has normalized 1, 3
  • ECG and echocardiogram findings are normal 3
• Taper aspirin first, then colchicine 1, 3
• Premature tapering before CRP normalization causes rebound inflammation and markedly increases recurrence risk 3

Post-MI Myopericarditis Considerations

• High-dose aspirin and colchicine are appropriate for symptomatic post-MI pericarditis (early or Dressler's syndrome) 1
• Avoid other NSAIDs (ibuprofen, indomethacin) in post-MI patients due to potential impairment of myocardial healing and increased risk of cardiac rupture 1
• Aspirin is preferred because it is already indicated for antiplatelet therapy post-MI 1
• Routine use is not indicated for asymptomatic pericardial effusions 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Corticosteroid Misuse

• Never use corticosteroids as first-line therapy—they increase recurrence risk by 4.3-fold (OR 4.30,95% CI 1.21–15.25) 1, 3, 6
• Reserve corticosteroids only for: true aspirin/NSAID allergy, recent GI bleeding, unacceptable bleeding risk on anticoagulation, pregnancy, or specific autoimmune conditions 1, 2
• If corticosteroids are necessary, use low-to-moderate doses (prednisone 0.2–0.5 mg/kg/day) as triple therapy with aspirin and colchicine, not as replacement 1, 3

Inadequate Treatment Duration

• Courses shorter than 3 months are associated with 15–30% recurrence after first episode and up to 50% after first recurrence 3, 2
• Continue full-dose therapy until complete symptom resolution and CRP normalization, which may take longer than the minimum 3 months 1, 3

Renal Function Oversight

• Failure to adjust colchicine dosing in severe renal impairment can cause life-threatening neuromyopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and bone marrow suppression 3
• Always check baseline renal function before initiating colchicine 3

Monitoring Parameters

• CRP levels: Serial measurements guide treatment duration and confirm readiness for tapering 1, 3, 5
• Clinical symptoms: Assess for complete resolution of chest pain before any dose reduction 3
• Cardiac biomarkers: Monitor troponin trends in myopericarditis 7
• Renal function: Check serum creatinine/eGFR at baseline and during treatment, especially with dose adjustments 3
• Activity restriction: Limit physical activity beyond ordinary sedentary life until symptoms resolve and CRP normalizes; athletes should restrict exercise for minimum 3 months 1, 3, 2