Cuprimine

Kidney Calculi, Rheumatoid Arthritis, refractory Rheumatoid arthritis + 2 more

Treatment

9 FDA approvals

3 Active Studies for Cuprimine

What is Cuprimine

Penicillamine

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Penicillamine is a drug used to treat heavy metal poisoning. It is a derivative of penicillin and is specifically the D-penicillamine form, as the L-penicillamine form is toxic and inhibits the action of pyridoxine. Penicillamine does not have any antibiotic properties.

Cuprimine

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Cuprimine Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Cuprimine

Penicillamine

1970

17

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Penicillamine, also known as Cuprimine, is approved by the FDA for 9 uses including Poisoning, Lead and Wilsons Disease .

Poisoning, Lead

Wilsons Disease

Helps manage Wilsons Disease

severe Rheumatoid arthritis

Helps manage severe Rheumatoid arthritis

refractory Rheumatoid arthritis

Helps manage refractory Rheumatoid arthritis

cystine renal calculi

Helps manage cystine renal calculi

Hepatolenticular Degeneration

Helps manage Wilsons Disease

Kidney Calculi

Helps manage cystine renal calculi

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Helps manage severe Rheumatoid arthritis

Lead Poisoning

Effectiveness

How Cuprimine Affects Patients

Penicillamine is used to treat Wilson's disease, cystinuria, and severe rheumatoid arthritis. It works by removing copper from the body in Wilson's disease, and suppressing the immune system to reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Penicillamine also prevents collagen cross-linking and reduces the numbers of T-lymphocytes and IL-1 in the body.

How Cuprimine works in the body

Penicillamine is used to remove excess copper from patients with Wilson's disease. It also helps reduce cystine in the urine of people with cystinuria by changing cystine into a more soluble form. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, it seems to decrease the activity of the disease, but it's unclear how this works. Penicillamine lowers the level of IgM rheumatoid factor, but doesn't affect other immune system proteins. It also suppresses T-cell activity but not B-cell activity.

When to interrupt dosage

The amount of Cuprimine is contingent upon the diagnosed affliction, for example cystine renal calculi, Poisoning, Lead and refractory Rheumatoid arthritis. The dosage likewise is contingent upon the method of delivery featured in the table below.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Rheumatoid Arthritis

, 250.0 mg, 125.0 mg

Tablet, Oral, , Tablet - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral

refractory Rheumatoid arthritis

, 250.0 mg, 125.0 mg

Tablet, Oral, , Tablet - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral

Lead Poisoning

, 250.0 mg, 125.0 mg

Tablet, Oral, , Tablet - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral

Hepatolenticular Degeneration

, 250.0 mg, 125.0 mg

Tablet, Oral, , Tablet - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral

Kidney Calculi

, 250.0 mg, 125.0 mg

Tablet, Oral, , Tablet - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Tablet, film coated, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral

Warnings

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Cuprimine.

Common Cuprimine Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

2-Methoxyethanol

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Penicillamine is combined with 2-Methoxyethanol.

9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Penicillamine is combined with 9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A.

Abatacept

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Penicillamine is combined with Abatacept.

Abetimus

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Penicillamine is combined with Abetimus.

Acteoside

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Penicillamine is combined with Acteoside.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Cuprimine Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Cuprimine?

Five active studies are currently examining the potential of Cuprimine in managing refractory Rheumatoid arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Wilson's Disease.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Lead Poisoning

0 Actively Recruiting

Rheumatoid Arthritis

0 Actively Recruiting

Kidney Calculi

0 Actively Recruiting

refractory Rheumatoid arthritis

0 Actively Recruiting

Hepatolenticular Degeneration

3 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 2

Cuprimine Reviews: What are patients saying about Cuprimine?

4.7

Patient Review

12/5/2009

Cuprimine for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overall, this has worked well for me in addressing flare-ups.

4.3

Patient Review

9/30/2018

Cuprimine for Excessive Copper Deposits in the Liver and Brain

I've been taking this medication for Wilson's Disease since 1966. It's truly a life-saver and I'm grateful to be alive and well enough to write a review about it all these years later.

3.7

Patient Review

7/29/2013

Cuprimine for Kidney Stones caused by Cystine

The only downside to Cuprimine is the price. I'm on Medicare, and the cost of a 60-pill prescription has increased by $300 since January 2020. The drug works great for me, but I feel taken advantage of because I need to keep taking it.

3.7

Patient Review

1/31/2016

Cuprimine for Kidney Stones caused by Cystine

Nausea was a big issue when I first started this treatment, but it's helped my kidney stones form more slowly.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about cuprimine

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What is the function of penicillamine?

"Penicillamine is a medication that helps to treat Wilson's disease. It works by binding to extra copper in the body and causing it to be excreted in urine."

Answered by AI

What is the drug Cuprimine used to treat?

"CUPRIMINE is a drug used to treat Wilson's disease, cystinuria, and severe active rheumatoid arthritis. Wilson's disease is a condition where there is too much copper in the body. Cystinuria is a condition where there is an excess amount of certain proteins in the urine. Severe active rheumatoid arthritis is a form of arthritis that does not respond to other forms of treatment."

Answered by AI

What is the side effect of penicillamine?

"Side effects that are commonly seen include an upset stomach, itching skin or a rash, nausea, loss of taste, stomach pain, not feeling hungry, and diarrhea. Lab results may show that there is protein in the urine, low white blood cells, and low platelets."

Answered by AI

What is penicillamine an antidote for?

"The drug penicillamine has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for Wilson disease and cystinuria, and is also sometimes used as an off-label treatment for lead poisoning in children. It is classified as a conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Cuprimine