Penicillamine

Generic name: penicillamine [ pen-ih-SILL-ah-meen ]
Brand names: Cuprimine, Depen, D-Penamine
Dosage forms: oral capsule (250 mg); oral tablet (125 mg; 250 mg)
Drug class:Antirheumatics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Apr 14, 2022. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is penicillamine?

Penicillamine is a chelating (KEE-late-ing) agent that binds to excess copper and removes it from the blood stream. In certain conditions, excess copper can build up in the blood stream, leading to tissue damage throughout the body.

Penicillamine is used to remove excess copper in people with an inherited condition called Wilson's disease.

Penicillamine is also used to reduce urine levels of an amino acid called cystine, which can cause stones to form in the kidneys and bladder in people with an inherited condition called cystinuria.

Penicillamine is also used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis after other medicines have been tried without success. Penicillamine is not approved to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Penicillamine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not use penicillamine if you are breast-feeding, if you have ever had an infection or damaged blood cells caused by penicillamine, or if you have kidney disease and you need penicillamine to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Every person taking penicillamine should remain under the close supervision of a doctor.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use penicillamine if you are allergic to it, or if:

• you are breast-feeding;

• you have kidney disease (if using penicillamine to treat rheumatoid arthritis); or

• you have developed an infection or damaged blood cells after taking penicillamine in the past.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with penicillamine. Your doctor may change your treatment plan if you also use:

• gold injections;

• medicine to treat or prevent malaria; or

• cancer medicine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease;

• an allergy to penicillin;

• a stomach ulcer;

• a weak immune system; or

• if you are malnourished.

Follow your doctor's instructions about taking penicillamine if you are pregnant. Do not start or stop taking penicillamine without your doctor's advice, and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

• Penicillamine may cause harm to an unborn baby and should not be used to treat cystinuria or rheumatoid arthritis if you are pregnant.

• Penicillamine may be used during pregna...