Drug interactions
Copper + Penicillamine
Severity: Moderate
Copper 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
Penicillamine is used to remove copper in Wilson disease, so copper supplements would work directly against its purpose. Oral copper may also be chelated in the gut, so neither achieves its intended effect.
What this interaction means in plain words
Copper 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.
Copper belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Penicillamine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Pharmacodynamic antagonism, since penicillamine chelates copper and promotes its urinary excretion.
What to do
Avoid copper supplements in patients treated with penicillamine for copper overload. In other uses, such as rheumatoid arthritis, separate doses and monitor copper status.
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 Penicillamine
- Gold sodium thiomalate + Penicillamine Major
- Aluminum hydroxide + Penicillamine Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Penicillamine Moderate
- Calcium + Penicillamine Moderate
- Carbonyl iron + Penicillamine Moderate
- Digoxin + Penicillamine Moderate
Other interactions of Copper
- Copper + Omadacycline Moderate
- Copper + Sarecycline Moderate
- Copper + Trientine Moderate
- Ascorbic acid + Copper Minor
- Baloxavir marboxil + Copper Minor
- Copper + Vitamin c Minor
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Copper with Penicillamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Copper 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. Penicillamine is used to remove copper in Wilson disease, so copper supplements would work directly against its purpose. Oral copper may also be chelated in the gut, so neither achieves its intended effect.
How serious is the interaction between Copper 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: Avoid copper supplements in patients treated with penicillamine for copper overload. In other uses, such as rheumatoid arthritis, separate doses and monitor copper status.
What other medicines interact with Penicillamine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Penicillamine with, for example, Gold sodium thiomalate, Aluminum hydroxide, Calcium carbonate. The full list is on the Penicillamine page.
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