Drug interactions
Iron + Penicillamine
Severity: Moderate
Iron 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
Oral iron binds penicillamine in the gut and markedly reduces its absorption, which can lessen its therapeutic effect. Stopping iron later may raise penicillamine levels and increase toxicity.
What this interaction means in plain words
Iron 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.
Iron belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Penicillamine belongs to Musculoskeletal.
Why it happens
Penicillamine chelates iron in the gastrointestinal tract, forming poorly absorbed complexes.
What to do
Separate oral iron and penicillamine by at least 2 hours, with penicillamine on an empty stomach. Monitor clinical response and adjust penicillamine if iron is started or stopped.
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 Iron
- Acetohydroxamic acid + Iron Moderate
- Aluminum hydroxide + Iron Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Iron Moderate
- Calcium acetate + Iron Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Iron Moderate
- Calcium citrate + Iron Moderate
Other interactions of Penicillamine
- Gold sodium thiomalate + Penicillamine Major
- Aluminum hydroxide + Penicillamine Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Penicillamine Moderate
- Calcium + Penicillamine Moderate
- Carbonyl iron + Penicillamine Moderate
- Copper + Penicillamine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Iron with Penicillamine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Iron 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. Oral iron binds penicillamine in the gut and markedly reduces its absorption, which can lessen its therapeutic effect. Stopping iron later may raise penicillamine levels and increase toxicity.
How serious is the interaction between Iron 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: Separate oral iron and penicillamine by at least 2 hours, with penicillamine on an empty stomach. Monitor clinical response and adjust penicillamine if iron is started or stopped.
What other medicines interact with Iron?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Iron with, for example, Acetohydroxamic acid, Aluminum hydroxide, Baloxavir marboxil. The full list is on the Iron page.
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