Nitisinone (Systemic)

Brand Names : Orfadin

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 nitisinone, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you or your child have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to nitisinone. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you or your child is allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Nitisinone has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in rats have shown that nitisinone causes reduced litter size, low birth weight and decreased survival after birth. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether nitisinone passes into human breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause specific problems.

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 nitisinone in the elderly with use in other age groups.

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 or your child is taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.