Trientine and Wilson's Disease Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is Trientine capsule for? Trientine is used for the treatment of Wilson's disease which is caused by having too much copper in your body. It is used in patients who cannot tolerate D-Penicillamine treatment. Q: How does Trientine work? It is a chelating agent, controls the amount of copper in the body by binding to it. The copper can then be passed from the body. Q: Can I take it with other medicines? Please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines. Iron preparations and acid indigestion remedies may be taken but at a different time of day. Q: Can I take it if I am pregnant? If you become pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, you must tell your doctor. You and your doctor can fully discuss the potential benefits of treatment whilst considering any possible risks that there may be with continuing treatment. Pregnant women should be monitored throughout pregnancy for any effects on the baby or changes in copper levels in the blood. Babies born to mothers being treated with Trientine should be monitored for blood levels of copper and ceruloplasmin. Q: How many capsules should I take? Your doctor will determine the dosage you need to take each day. Adults including elderly people need between 4 and 8 capsules daily. In children the dosage depends on age and body weight and will be adjusted by your doctor. Dosage varies between 2 and 5 capsules at the start of treatment.

Q: When should I take my medicine? You should divide your total dose into 2 to 4 smaller doses. Take your capsules with a drink of water 30 minutes to 1 hour before food Q: What should I do if I forget to take my capsules? If you forget to take one or more doses, take another dose as soon as possible then continue as your doctor has prescribed . Do not take a double dose. Q: What should I do if I take too much? If you take an overdose contact your doctor. Q: Will I have any side effects? You may feel sick at the start of treatment. Occasionally Trientine may cause a skin rash. Very rarely it can cause anaemia which might make you feel unusually tired. There have been occasional reports of inflammation of the small intestine or colon, resulting in severe stomach pains or persistent diarrhoea; if you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. If these, or any other side effects not listed, occur whilst taking your medicine, please tell your doctor. Q: How do I store my medicine? Your medicine must be kept in its original container (also keep the silica gel sachet in the bottle), in the fridge at a temperature of between 2-8 ° C. Do not store in your freezer. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not take your medicine if it has passed its “use before” date (printed on the bottle label) If you feel that your questions regarding Wilson's Disease and Trientine are still not answered please contact Univar