• This medicine is very strong. It can prevent your bone marrow from making some of the cells that your body needs. You will be closely monitored by healthcare provider. Tell healthcare provider right away about any fever, sore throat, signs of infection, bleeding, shortness of breath, or feeling tired.
• If you have an allergy to penicillamine or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• If you are breast-feeding.
• Penicillamine helps remove cystine from your body.
• It binds with certain metals for removal from the body.
• It decreases the body's harmful response to diseases affecting the immune system.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Take this medicine on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
• A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Shake well before use.
• Those who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.
• For patients who have feeding tubes, open capsule and mix with 3 tablespoonfuls of apple juice. Give through feeding tube. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.
• Take vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) as recommended by healthcare provider.
• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.
• Drink plenty of noncaffeine-containing liquid unless told to drink less liquid by healthcare provider.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
• Check blood work regularly. Talk with healthcare provider.
• Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
• Follow up with healthcare provider.
• Store capsules and tablets at room temperature.
• Protect capsules and tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
• Store liquid (suspension) at room temperature or in a refrigerator. Throw away any unused portion after 1 month.
Created: 2005-04-07 17:08:06.0
Modified: 2010-03-09 08:31:44.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• This medicine is used to treat Wilson's disease.
• This medicine is used to remove a protein called cystine from your body.
• This medicine is used to treat arthritis.
• This medicine is used to remove certain metals from the body.
• If you have a penicillin allergy, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Do not take dairy products, bismuth (Pepto-Bismol®), calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, multivitamins with minerals, colestipol, cholestyramine, didanosine, or antacids within 2 hours of this medicine.
• Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers that you use this medicine.
• Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Abnormal taste. This is usually reversible.
• Not hungry.
• Muscle weakness.
• Itching.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs or symptoms of infection. These include a fever of 100.5 degrees or higher, chills, severe sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, increased sputum or change in color, painful urination, mouth sores, wound that will not heal, or anal itching or pain.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe muscle pain or weakness.
• Unusual bruising or bleeding.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
