Diacerein should not be administered to patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug itself or to those with previous episodes of hypersensitivity to anthraquinone derivatives. Temporary treatment suspension must be considered in case of antibiotic therapy, which may affect intestinal flora and kinetics. As diacerein may cause acceleration in intestinal transit time in some patients in the early period of treatment, it should be used with caution in those with previous episodes of enterocolic disturbances such as irritable colon. ARTRODAR is contraindicated in patients with inflammatory intestinal disease (e.g. ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), intestinal obstruction or pseudo-obstruction, painful abdominal syndromes of undetermined cause and severe liver disease.