Uses of Cuprimine

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1. Cuprimine drug effect

Cuprimine has the main ingredient Penicillamine. Penicillamine is a chelating agent that binds excess copper and helps remove it from the blood stream. Under certain circumstances, excess copper can build up in the blood, leading to tissue damage throughout the body.
Drugs used to help treat conditions such as:
Cuprimine is used to help remove excess copper in people with an inherited condition called Wilson's disease. Cuprimine is also used to lower urine levels of an amino acid called cystine, which can cause stone formation in the kidneys and bladder in people with an inherited condition called cystinuria. Cuprimine is also used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis after other medications have been prescribed without success. Note this medication is not recommended for the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

2. How to take Cuprimine

Cuprimine is taken orally. You should take Cuprimine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. Drink more fluids while you are taking Cuprimine. Some cautions about use that you need to know include:
Do not drink milk within 1 hour before or 1 hour after taking Cuprimine. You may need to have regular urine tests while taking this medicine Your condition may get worse for a short time when you first start taking this medicine. Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice. It may take up to 3 months before rheumatoid arthritis symptoms improve. Keep using this medication as directed and let your doctor know if your symptoms do not improve. If you stop taking Cuprimine for any reason, do not start taking it again until you have talked to your doctor and are advised to take it. You may need to be prescribed a multivitamin or supplement with iron or vitamin B6 while you are taking Cuprimine . Take only the necessary amount of supplements your doctor has prescribed. Store medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Close the cap of the medicine bottle tightly when not in use.

3. Contraindications of Cuprimine

Do not use Cuprimine if:
You are allergic to the active ingredient Penicillamine or to any of the other ingredients. If you are breast-feeding, you should not breast-feed while taking the drug. Have kidney disease (if using Cuprimine to treat rheumatoid arthritis); Have had an infection or damaged blood cells after taking Cuprimine in the past. Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when taken with Cuprimine. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you also use gold injections; medicine to treat or prevent malaria; or cancer drugs.

4. Undesirable effects of the drug Cuprimine

Side effects when you use Cuprimine include:
Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, skin rash; severe abdominal pain; shortness of breath; severe dizziness; swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Seek medical attention immediately if any of these allergic reactions occur. When taking Cuprimine can cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you experience side effects including: new or worsening joint pain; muscle weakness in the arms and legs; muscle weakness in the face, drooping eyelids, double vision; difficulty chewing or swallowing; new or worsening cough, fever, trouble breathing; blisters or ulcers in the mouth, red or swollen gums, trouble swallowing; skin rash, peeling skin, or blisters; pain or burning sensation when urinating, foamy or bloody urine, low back pain; swelling in the hands, feet, and legs; or low blood cell counts with symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin and mucous membranes, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or difficult breathe. Common side effects of Cuprimine may include: decreased sense of taste; skin changes such as wrinkling or pimples; stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite; numbness or tingling sensations; your tinnitus; or a hard-to-heal wound. These are not the full side effects of the drug and other side effects may occur. Call your doctor for advice about side effects.

5. What should be noted when using Cuprimine?

Drugs are used when prescribed by a doctor Each person taking Cuprimine should be maintained under the close supervision of a doctor. Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor about any allergies or medical conditions such as kidney disease; liver failure; allergy to penicillin; stomach ulcers; have a weak immune system; or if you are malnourished. Use the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not start or stop taking Cuprimine without your doctor's advice if you are pregnant. You should tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Cuprimine can harm an unborn baby and should not be used to treat cystinuria or rheumatoid arthritis if you are pregnant. Cuprimine can be used during pregnancy to prevent recurrence of Wilson's disease. Not treating a Wilson's disease condition during pregnancy can have harmful or fatal effects on the mother. The benefit of preventing a recurrence of Wilson's disease may outweigh any risks of the drug to the baby. Avoid taking other medicines at the same time as Cuprimine. If you take an iron supplement, take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take it. Iron may make it harder for your body to absorb this medicine. Avoid taking other mineral supplements, unless your doctor tells you to. If you have Wilson's disease, eat a healthy diet like avoiding nuts, chocolate, molasses, liver, shellfish, broccoli, mushrooms, and copper-fortified grains. Also avoid taking mineral supplements that contain copper. If your drinking water supply contains more than 0.1 mg of copper per liter of water, you may need to drink distilled or demineralized water. Thus, with the information about the drug, you can better understand the drug and ensure its safety, you need to use it exactly as directed, and notify your doctor if any abnormalities occur.

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