Drug interactions
Calcium + Penicillamine
Severity: Moderate
Calcium and Penicillamine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Calcium-containing products can reduce oral penicillamine absorption, potentially lessening its therapeutic effect in Wilson disease, cystinuria or rheumatoid arthritis.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium and Penicillamine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Calcium belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Penicillamine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Divalent cations chelate penicillamine in the gut, reducing absorption.
What to do
Take penicillamine on an empty stomach at least 2 hours apart from calcium products. Monitor clinical response and urinary copper or cystine as relevant.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Calcium
- Calcium + Ceftriaxone Contraindicated
- Acalabrutinib + Calcium Moderate
- Alendronate + Calcium Moderate
- Atazanavir + Calcium Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Calcium Moderate
- Bendroflumethiazide + Calcium Moderate
Other interactions of Penicillamine
- Gold sodium thiomalate + Penicillamine Major
- Aluminum hydroxide + Penicillamine Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Penicillamine Moderate
- Carbonyl iron + Penicillamine Moderate
- Copper + Penicillamine Moderate
- Digoxin + Penicillamine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium with Penicillamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcium and Penicillamine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Calcium-containing products can reduce oral penicillamine absorption, potentially lessening its therapeutic effect in Wilson disease, cystinuria or rheumatoid arthritis.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium and Penicillamine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Take penicillamine on an empty stomach at least 2 hours apart from calcium products. Monitor clinical response and urinary copper or cystine as relevant.
What other medicines interact with Calcium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Calcium with, for example, Ceftriaxone, Acalabrutinib, Alendronate. The full list is on the Calcium page.
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