Penicillamine Capsules and Multivitamins with minerals

PenicillAMINE and multivitamin with minerals should not be taken orally at the same time. Products that contain magnesium, aluminum, calcium, iron, and/or other minerals may interfere with the absorption of penicillAMINE into the bloodstream and reduce its effectiveness. You should take multivitamin with minerals at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after the penicillAMINE dose. Talk to a healthcare professional if you are not sure whether a product contains something that could potentially interact with your medication or if you have questions on how to take this or other medications you are prescribed. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Oral administration of aluminum, copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, and possibly other minerals such as calcium may decrease the gastrointestinal absorption of penicillamine, and vice versa. The proposed mechanism involves chelation of penicillamine to polyvalent cations, which leads to formation of a nonabsorbable complex. In a study of six healthy volunteers, administration of penicillamine (500 mg) following a single dose of ferrous sulfate (300 mg) or antacid (Maalox Plus 30 mL) reduced the mean peak plasma concentration of penicillamine by 65% and 34%, respectively, compared to administration in the fasting state. In addition to chelation, some investigators suggest that antacids may also reduce penicillamine bioavailability by increasing gastric pH, which favors the oxidation of penicillamine to its poorly absorbed disulfide form. These changes could result in diminished therapeutic effects of penicillamine.

MANAGEMENT: Mineral supplements or other products containing polyvalent cations (e.g., antacids or preparations containing antacids such as didanosine buffered tablets or pediatric oral solution) should be administered at least two hours before or two hours after the penicillamine dose. In addition, pharmacologic response to penicillamine should be monitored more closely whenever these products are added to or withdrawn from therapy, and the penicillamine dosage adjusted as necessary.