What are the side effects of Trientine?

Trientine (Trientine) is an oral copper chelator widely used to treat Wilson's disease (hepatolenticular degeneration), a genetic disorder caused by excessive accumulation of copper in the body. Although trientine plays an important role in the treatment of copper metabolism disorders, its side effects cannot be ignored. The most common side effect is nausea, especially in the early stages of treatment, and many people experience discomfort after taking this drug, which may lead to reduced compliance with the drug in some patients.

About1% of patients taking trientine will develop a rash. This rash may manifest as erythema, itching, and other symptoms, and although it is usually mild, it may require medical intervention in some cases. Additionally, patients have reported the development of duodenitis, an inflammation of the duodenum, which can lead to upper abdominal discomfort and digestive problems. More serious side effects include colitis, which usually manifests as inflammation of the large intestine, along with symptoms such as pain and diarrhea, which in severe cases can affect quality of life.

Clinical observation found that some patients may experience neurological deterioration in the early stages of treatment, manifesting as symptoms such as dystonia, stiffness, tremor, and dysarthria. These neurological complaints can have a significant impact on the patient's daily life and require close monitoring during treatment.

Despite these common side effects, trientine is not indicated for the treatment of biliary cirrhosis. In some studies, a range of adverse reactions have been reported in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis when treated with trientine hydrochloride. These adverse reactions include heartburn, upper abdominal pain, skin thickening, cracking and flaking. Patients may also develop hypochromic microcytic anemia, acute gastritis, aphthous ulcers, melena, and other gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and anorexia.

Reference materials:https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=c34f77a7-996b-4470-b5df-d946a7fe5dbe##