Drug Information
Penicillamine is a chelating agent (binds metals and carries them out of the body). Penicillamine is used to treat people with Wilson’s disease, cystinuria, and severe rheumatoid arthritis.
Common brand names:
Cuprimine, Depen Titratabs
Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, & Foods
Types of interactions:
Beneficial
Adverse
Check
Replenish Depleted Nutrients
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Vitamin B6
Penicillamine may increase vitamin B6 excretion, reduce activity, and increase the risk for vitamin B6 deficiency. It makes sense for people taking penicillamine to supplement with small (5–20 mg per day) amounts of vitamin B6. Some researchers have suggested that as much as 50 mg per day of vitamin B6 may be necessary.
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Penicillamine therapy has been associated with sodium depletion. The frequency of this association remains unclear.
The interaction is supported by preliminary, weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
Support Medicine
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Bromelain
One report found bromelain improved the action of antibiotic drugs, including penicillin and erythromycin, in treating a variety of infections. In that trial, 22 out of 23 people who had previously not responded to the antibiotics did so after adding bromelain four times per day. Doctors will sometimes prescribe enough bromelain to equal 2,400 gelatin dissolving units (listed as GDU on labels) per day. This amount would equal approximately 3,600 MCU (milk clotting units), another common measure of bromelain activity.
Reduces Effectiveness
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Zinc
People taking penicillamine should discuss with their doctor whether it would be appropriate to take a zinc supplement (at a separate time of day from the penicillamine). However, people taking penicillamine should not supplement with zinc, unless they are being supervised by a doctor.
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In a double-blind study with ten healthy people, guar gum reduced penicillin absorption. Until more is known, to avoid this interaction, people taking penicillin should take it two hours before or after any guar gum-containing supplements. It remains unclear whether the smaller amounts of guar gum found in many processed foods would have a significant effect.
The interaction is supported by preliminary, weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
Potential Negative Interaction
Explanation Required
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Copper
One of the main uses of penicillamine is to reduce toxic copper deposits in people with Wilson’s disease. People taking a copper supplement can make Wilson’s disease worse and may negate the benefits of drugs used to remove copper from the body.
The Drug-Nutrient Interactions table may not include every possible interaction. Taking medicines with meals, on an empty stomach, or with alcohol may influence their effects. For details, refer to the manufacturers’ package information as these are not covered in this table. If you take medications, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a new supplement with your doctor or pharmacist.
