Tiopronin (Systemic)

Brand Names : Thiola, Capen, Captimer, Epatiol, Mucolysin, Sutilan, Thiosol, Tioglis, Vincol

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For tiopronin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to penicillamine or tiopronin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - It is important that you follow any special instructions from your doctor, such as following a low-methionine diet. Methionine is found in animal proteins such as milk, eggs, cheese, and fish. Also, make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.

Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However, studies in animals have shown that tiopronin may cause problems during pregnancy and harmful effects on the fetus.

Breast-feeding - Tiopronin may pass into the breast milk. This medicine is not recommended during breast-feeding because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Children - Although there is no specific information comparing use of tiopronin in children with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of tiopronin in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of tiopronin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood problems (or a history of) or
• Kidney disease (or a history of) or
• Liver disease - Tiopronin may make these conditions worse