nitisinone

Nitisinone is used to treat a certain inherited disorder (hereditary tyrosinemia type 1, also known as HT-1). HT-1 is usually discovered in infants and needs lifelong treatment. This condition is caused by a shortage of a certain natural substance that is needed to break down a nutrient (tyrosine) found in food. This effect causes a build-up of too much tyrosine and related substances in the liver. Nitisinone works by helping to prevent the formation and build-up of several toxic substances that cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. This drug must be used along with a diet low in protein, tyrosine, and phenylalanine.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before a meal, usually twice daily, or as directed by your doctor. For children who are unable to swallow capsules, the capsules may be opened and the contents mixed in a small amount of water, formula, or applesauce immediately before use. Make sure the child swallows the entire dose. The dosage is based on weight, medical condition, and response to treatment. The manufacturer recommends that patients should not take more than 2 milligrams per kilogram a day. Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day. It is very important that patients taking this medication follow a special diet low in protein, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or dietician for more details. (See also Drug Interactions and Precautions sections.) Nitisinone can increase tyrosine levels and cause eye problems. Patients should have an eye test (slit-lamp examination) before using this medication so that later the doctor can see whether there have been changes. (See also Side Effects and Precautions sections.)

Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Many foods, drugs, or supplements may contain aspartame, tyrosine, or phenylalanine, which must be limited in patients taking this drug. Check the labels on all products (especially artificially sweetened products) for aspartame, tyrosine and phenylalanine content. Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or dietician for more details.

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as compete blood count, liver function tests, blood and urine tests for tyrosine and related substances) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Before giving nitisinone, tell the doctor or pharmacist if your child is allergic to it; or if your child has any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell the doctor or pharmacist your child's medical history, especially of: eye problems (such as cataracts, corneal ulcers). Patients taking this medication are at risk for developing high levels of tyrosine in the blood, possibly leading to eye, skin, and nervous system problems. (See Side effects section.) To decrease the risk of high tyrosine levels, patients should follow a diet low in tyrosine and phenylalanine. Avoid foods and beverages that contain aspartame or are high in tyrosine or phenylalanine. Foods high in tyrosine include soy products, turkey, fish, avocados, bananas, yogurt, and lima beans. Foods high in phenylalanine include milk, chicken, eggs, cheese, peanut butter. (See also Drug Interactions section.) During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. If you are taking this medication and wish to breast-feed, consult your doctor first.

Store in the refrigerator between 36-46 degrees F (2-8 degrees C) away from light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Remember that the doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. This medication may rarely cause a low number of blood cells such as white cells and platelets. This effect can decrease your body's ability to fight an infection or cause easy bruising/bleeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following unlikely symptoms: signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat), easy bruising/bleeding. Your condition and this medication can cause liver problems. Tell the doctor immediately if any of these symptoms of liver problems occur: severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea or vomiting, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine. Your condition and this medication can cause high levels of tyrosine in the blood. Therefore, it is very important to follow the low protein/low tyrosine diet recommended by your doctor. See also Precautions section. Too much tyrosine may cause skin, eye, or brain problems. Tell the doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur: eye redness/itching/discharge, vision changes, eye pain, eye sensitivity (especially to light), dry/itchy skin, sores on palms of hands/soles of feet, developmental delays (such as holding head up, rolling over, crawling). A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact the doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.