Trientine hydrochloride is a copper chelator used to treat Wilson disease in adult patients. FDA approved this medicine on May 02, 2022.

Trientine hydrochloride is an orally available prescription drug. It is a copper chelator used to treat adult patients with stable Wilson’s disease who cannot tolerate any medicine used to treat the disease.

It is an orally available drug. The medicine is available in 250mg and 333mg capsules. Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of Trientine hydrochloride based on the disease condition and other factors. Always take this medicine as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the capsules with water on an empty stomach (at least one hour before meals or two hours after meals, and at least one hour apart from any other medicines, food, or milk.) Do not break, chew, crush, or break the capsules.

The common side effects of Trientine hydrochloride are abdominal pain, change of bowel movements, rash, alopecia, mood swings, difficulty in moving, and muscle pain. Other serious side effects are iron deficiency anemia and severe skin reactions.

This medicine may cause low blood counts of red blood cells.  Your doctor may advise you to take blood tests before and every month during the treatment. Trientine hydrochloride, on long-term use, may cause copper deficiency. This medicine may cause severe hypersensitivity reactions. Inform your physician immediately if you face any symptoms, such as skin rashes, breathing difficulties, chest pain, cough, or swelling in the face and body after taking the medicine. 

Inform your physician if you have kidney or liver problems, breathing problems, dermatitis (red and itchy skin), and anemia. Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to Trientine Hydrochloride or any other ingredients in this medicine. Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications may interact with Trientine hydrochloride and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding because this medicine may cause harm to the baby.

Store this Trientine hydrochloride at room temperature 20°C to 25°C. Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets. If you forgot to take the capsule, take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Avoid concomitant use of mineral supplements like iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. Consult your physician before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements.

Take this medicine at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking iron supplements or 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking other supplements like calcium, magnesium, or zinc. This medicine may cause copper or iron deficiency. Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Do not stop taking this medicine without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may do lab tests to check the therapy's effectiveness or monitor the unwanted side effects.

1. Trientine dihydrochloride Tillomed 250 mg capsules, hard - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). www.medicines.org.uk. [cited 2023 Apr 3]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/11626/smpc
2. HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. Food and Drug Administration - Trientine hydrochloride. [revised on 2022] [cited 2023 Apr 3]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/215760s000lbl.pdf
3. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Environmental toxicology: Carcinogenesis and Heavy metals, 12th edition, 2011, 1875.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.