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| Other drug names: | A-Am An-Az B C-Ch Ci-Cz D-Dh Di-Dz E F G H I-J K-L M-Mh Mi-Mz N-Nh Ni-Nz O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q-R S-Sn So-Sz T-To Tp-Tz U-V W-Z 0-9 |
| Contents of this page: | |
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.--
In Canada--
Penicillamine (pen-i-SIL-a-meen) is used in the treatment of medical problems such as Wilson's disease (too much copper in the body) and rheumatoid arthritis. Also, it is used to prevent kidney stones. Penicillamine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
In addition to the helpful effects of this medicine, it has side effects that can be very serious. Before you take penicillamine, be sure that you have discussed the use of it with your doctor.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For penicillamine, the following should be considered:
Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to penicillin or to penicillamine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy--Penicillamine may cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding--It is not known whether penicillamine passes into breast milk. Use of this medicine is not recommended in women who are breast-feeding.
Children--Although there is no specific information about the use of penicillamine in children, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.
Older adults--Sore throat and fever, with or without chills; sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth; shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in the chest, and/or wheezing; swollen and/or painful glands; black, tarry stools; blood in urine or stools; pinpoint red spots on skin; cough or hoarseness; lower back or side pain; painful or difficult urination; unusual bleeding or bruising; and unusual tiredness or weakness may be especially likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to some of the effects of penicillamine.
Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking penicillamine, it is important that your health care professional know if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine, especially:
Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of penicillamine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Since penicillamine is taken in different ways for different medical problems, it is very important that you understand exactly why you are taking this medicine and how to take it. See below for information on specific medical problems. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
For patients taking this medicine to prevent kidney stones :
For patients taking this medicine for rheumatoid arthritis :
For patients taking this medicine for Wilson's disease :
For patients taking this medicine for lead poisoning :
For all patients :
Dosing--The dose of penicillamine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of penicillamine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Missed dose--If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:
If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
Storage--To store this medicine:
Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine does not cause unwanted effects.
Before having any kind of surgery (including dental surgery), tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking this medicine.
Be careful when using a regular toothbrush, dental floss, or toothpick. Your medical doctor, dentist, or nurse may recommend other ways to clean your teeth and gums. Check with your medical doctor before having any dental work done.
If you are taking iron preparations, or vitamin preparations containing iron, do not take them within 2 hours of the time you take this medicine. Taking the two medicines too close together may keep the penicillamine from working properly.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Fever; joint pain; lesions on the face, neck, scalp, and/or trunk; skin rash, hives, or itching; swollen and/or painful glands; ulcers, sores, or white spots on lips or in mouth
Less common
Bloody or cloudy urine; shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, or wheezing; sore throat and fever with or without chills; swelling of face, feet, or lower legs; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; weight gain
Rare
Abdominal or stomach pain (severe); blisters on skin; bloody or black, tarry stools; chest pain; coughing or hoarseness; dark urine; difficulty in breathing, chewing, talking, or swallowing; eye pain, blurred or double vision, or any change in vision; general feeling of discomfort or illness or weakness; lower back or side pain; muscle weakness; painful or difficult urination; pale stools; pinpoint red spots on skin; redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of skin; red or irritated eyes; red, thick, or scaly skin; ringing or buzzing in the ears; spitting blood; yellow eyes or skin
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
More common
Diarrhea; lessening or loss of sense of taste; loss of appetite; nausea or vomiting; stomach pain (mild)
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Once a product has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, penicillamine is used in certain patients with the following conditions:
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions or side effects for these uses.
Revised: 05/19/99
Interim revision: 09/01/94
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