Penicillamine

About penicillamine

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Your immune system normally makes antibodies to protect you from germs (bacteria and viruses). In people with autoimmune diseases, the immune system makes antibodies that attack the tissues of the body. It is not clear why this happens. Penicillamine belongs to a group of medicines known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and works by suppressing your immune system. This helps to stop it from attacking the tissues of your body and reduces the damaging effect of the disease on your joints.

Penicillamine is also used to treat some metabolic disorders such as Wilsons sjukdom and cystinuria. In Wilson's disease, it works by binding to copper metal ions in the body so they can be more easily removed by the kidneys. In cystinuria, it lowers the amount of cystine in the urine. This prevents the formation of the crystals which form kidney or bladder stones.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking penicillamine it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Om du är gravid, försöker bli gravid eller ammar.

• Om du har några problem med hur dina njurar fungerar.

• If you have been told you have lupus erythematosus. This is also an autoimmune disease causing inflammation.

• Om du tar eller använder några andra läkemedel. Detta inkluderar alla läkemedel du tar som finns att köpa utan recept, samt växtbaserade och komplementära läkemedel.

• Om du någonsin har haft en allergisk reaktion mot en medicin.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The leaflet will give you more information about penicillamine and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take penicillamine exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your dose will depend upon the reason why you are taking it, so your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take each day, and when to take them. Your dose will also be on the label of the pack to remind you. If you are taking it for RA, your doctor may give you a small dose at first and then gradually increase it over a number of weeks.

• You should take the tablets 'on an empty stomach', which means taking them 30-60 minutes before a meal, or at bedtime. Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.

• Try to take your doses of penicillamine at the same times each day, as this will help you to remember to take them.

• If you do forget to take a dose, take one as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose. If you are due to take your next dose soon, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.
  

• You should expect that penicillamine will build up its effect gradually. This means that you may not notice much improvement in your condition until after 6 to 12 weeks of taking the tablets.

• It is important that you keep your regular appointments with your doctor or clinic so that your progress can be monitored. Also, your doctor will arrange for you to have regular blood tests, especially during the first two months of your treatment.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take. This is because some medicines interfere with penicillamine and may either stop it from working fully, or increase the risk that you will experience side-effects. This includes vitamin/mineral supplements, antacids, and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen.

• Treatment with penicillamine is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. Continue to take the tablets unless your doctor recommends otherwise.

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking penicillamine.

Förutom sina nyttiga effekter kan de flesta läkemedel orsaka oönskade biverkningar, även om inte alla upplever dem. Dessa förbättras vanligtvis när din kropp anpassar sig till det nya läkemedlet, men tala med din läkare eller apotekare om någon av följande biverkningar fortsätter eller blir besvärliga.

Om du upplever några andra symtom som du tror kan bero på denna medicin, tala med din läkare eller apotekare.

• Förvara alla läkemedel utom räckhåll och synhåll för barn.

• Förvara på en sval, torr plats, borta från direkt värme och ljus.