Penicillamine is a chelating agent. It attaches to other chemicals in the body, which aids in their
removal.
Penicillamine is used to remove excess copper associated with Wilson’s disease. It is also used
to reduce cystine in the urine and to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Penicillamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Take penicillamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these
instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Penicillamine must be taken on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a
full meal, and at least 1 hour before or after any other drug, food, or milk. Taking penicillamine with
anything else in the stomach greatly decreases its effectiveness.
Do not stop taking penicillamine without first talking to your doctor. Stopping therapy may
cause your body to react abnormally when therapy is restarted. If you do stop taking the medication,
do not restart without first talking to your doctor. You may need special monitoring.
Your doctor may want you to take a vitamin and mineral supplement during treatment with
penicillamine. Penicillamine may reduce vitamin B6 and iron in the body. Follow your doctor’s
instructions.
Store penicillamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, seek emergency medical
attention or contact your doctor immediately:
an allergic reaction (shortness of breath; closing of your throat;
difficulty breathing; swelling of your lips, face, or tongue; or hives);
fever or chills;
a sore throat;
unusual bleeding or bruising;
blood in the urine;
unexplained shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing;
abdominal pain;
yellow skin or eyes;
muscle weakness; or
double vision.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to
take penicillamine and notify your doctor if you experience
itching or a rash;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite;
ringing in the ears;
decreased taste;
sores in the mouth;
poor wound healing; or
increased wrinkling of the skin.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor
about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Do not take penicillamine if you are taking any of the following medicines:
a gold-therapy product such as auranofin (Ridaura),
aurothioglucose (Solganal), or gold sodium thiomalate (Myochrysine, Aurolate);
an antimalarial medicine such as quinine (Quinamm),
mefloquine (Lariam), chloroquine (Aralen), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), primaquine, or
pyrimethamine (Daraprim);
a cancer chemotherapy medicine; or
phenylbutazone.
Like penicillamine, the medications listed above can affect the blood and the
kidneys. Combined with penicillamine, any of these medicines can be very dangerous.
Before taking penicillamine, tell your doctor if you are taking digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps).
Penicillamine may decrease the effects of digoxin, and your doctor may want to adjust your dosage or
monitor your therapy.
Many other drugs, especially antacids and vitamin and mineral supplements, can decrease the
effects of penicillamine. Do not take any medicines or over-the-counter drugs or supplements within 1
hour of a penicillamine dose.
Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with penicillamine. Talk to your doctor and
pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
Take the missed dose on an empty stomach as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost
time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do
not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor. If you have missed
several doses in a row, do not take any more doses without first talking to your doctor.
Notify your doctor immediately if you develop fever; chills; a sore throat; unusual bruising
or bleeding; blood in your urine, unexplained shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing; muscle
weakness; or double vision. These symptoms could be early signs of dangerous side effects.
You cannot take penicillamine if you have taken it in the past and it has damaged your
blood cells.
Before taking penicillamine, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease or any other serious
illness. You may not be able to take penicillamine, or you may require a lower dose or special
monitoring during therapy.
Penicillamine may cause birth defects in an unborn baby. However, it has also been used
during pregnancy with no evidence of defects. Penicillamine should not be used during pregnancy
except to treat Wilson’s disease and some cases of cystine in the urine. Do not take this medication
without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether penicillamine passes into breast milk. Since penicillamine may harm
a nursing infant, breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with this medication.
Penicillamine is available with a prescription under the brand names Cuprimine and Depen.
Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you
have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Cuprimine 125 mg–ivory and gray capsules
Cuprimine 250 mg–ivory colored capsules
Depen 250 mg–white, oval, scored tablets
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your
medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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