PENICILLAMINE Meaning and
Definition
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Penicillamine is a pharmaceutical drug that belongs to the class of cysteine-based chelating agents. It is primarily used for treatment in patients with various medical conditions, including Wilson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cystinuria. The substance is administered orally and acts by binding to heavy metals such as copper, preventing their deposition and subsequent toxicity in the body.
Penicillamine works by forming stable complexes with copper, enabling its elimination from the body through urine. In the case of Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder characterized by the accumulation of copper in various tissues, penicillamine helps remove excess copper and reduce its toxic effects in organs such as the liver and brain. Similarly, in rheumatoid arthritis, the drug is used to manage inflammation and improve joint mobility. In patients with cystinuria, penicillamine prevents the formation of kidney stones by facilitating the excretion of cystine, a substance responsible for stone formation.
Despite its therapeutic benefits, penicillamine may cause side effects such as gastrointestinal disturbances, rashes, and bone marrow suppression, which need to be closely monitored. Additionally, people with a history of hypersensitivity to penicillamine or those suffering from certain autoimmune conditions are advised against its use. As with any medication, it is crucial to consult with a healthcare professional before initiating penicillamine therapy to ensure proper dosage and monitoring are in place.
Common Misspellings for PENICILLAMINE
- oenicillamine
- lenicillamine
- -enicillamine
- 0enicillamine
- pwnicillamine
- psnicillamine
- pdnicillamine
- prnicillamine
- p4nicillamine
- p3nicillamine
- pebicillamine
- pemicillamine
- pejicillamine
- pehicillamine
- penucillamine
- penjcillamine
- penkcillamine
- penocillamine
- pen9cillamine
Etymology of PENICILLAMINE
The word "penicillamine" is derived from two parts: "penicillin" and "-amine".
1. Penicillin: The term "penicillin" is derived from the scientific name of the fungus from which it was first isolated: Penicillium. The discovery of penicillin is accredited to Alexander Fleming in 1928, who noticed its antimicrobial properties. The name "penicillin" was coined by Fleming himself.
2. -amine: The suffix "-amine" is a common name ending in chemistry, indicating the presence of an amino group (-NH2) in a compound.
Therefore, "penicillamine" refers to a compound that incorporates an amino group into the structure of penicillin.
Similar spelling words for PENICILLAMINE
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