Cysteamine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Cystagon

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 cysteamine, the following should be considered:

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

Pregnancy - Cysteamine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that cysteamine causes a decrease in fertility and a decrease in survival of their offspring. Before taking this medicine, make sure your health care professional knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether cysteamine passes into breast milk. Since cysteamine has been reported to cause problems in nursing animals, it may be necessary for you to stop taking this medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems 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. There is no specific information comparing use of cysteamine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

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

• Blood problems (or a history of) or
• Convulsions (seizures) or
• Liver disease - Cysteamine may make these conditions worse