Sapropterin (oral route)
Available brands
Kuvan
About this medication
Sapropterin is used to lower phenylalanine levels in the blood of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). High levels of phenylalanine (an amino acid) in the blood can cause severe brain damage, including severe mental retardation, seizures, tremors, or decreased learning ability. This medicine is usually given along with a special diet. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
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 this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of sapropterin in children younger than 1 month of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established. . Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of sapropterin have not been performed in the geriatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. 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. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects. This medicine should come with a patient information insert. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. It is best to take this medicine with food at the same time each day. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet. It is important that you maintain a diet with restricted amounts of phenylalanine. Patients who weigh more than 10 kilograms who are using thepowder for oral solution: Pour the contents of the 100 mg- or 500 mg- packet in 4 to 8 ounces (1/2 to 1 cup) of water or apple juice. Mix thoroughly. Drink this mixture within 30 minutes. You may also add it in a small amount of food, such as applesauce or pudding before taking. Patients who weigh more than 10 kilograms who are using thetablets: You may swallow the tablets whole or mix them in 4 to 8 ounces (1/2 to 1 cup) of water or apple juice before taking. It may take a few minutes for the tablets to dissolve. To make the tablets dissolve faster, you may stir or crush them. Drink this mixture within 15 minutes. You may also crush the tablets and mix in a small amount of soft food, such as apple sauce or pudding before taking. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep the bottle tightly closed. Keep the medicine in the original bottle that you were given at the pharmacy.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.