Hi, I’m Hannah and I’m currently a college student studying voice. I love music and being outdoors, and I’ve also been riding dirt bikes since I was 7!
I was diagnosed with nephropathic cystinosis when I was 15 months old and have been managing my condition from a young age. I think the most difficult thing to understand about this condition is the extent of damage that a buildup of cystine can cause throughout the body.
Nephropathic cystinosis can be difficult to explain, so let’s take a closer look inside the body.
Cystinosis is a rare, genetic condition that causes an amino acid called cystine to build up and form crystals throughout the body.
Amino acids, like cystine, are the building blocks that make up protein.
Nephropathic cystinosis is the most common form, seen in about 95% of cases. It causes severe damage to the kidneys and other organs in the body.
People with nephropathic cystinosis have cells that are unable to remove cystine like they normally should. The cystine builds up and forms crystals within cells, affecting every organ of the body.
This can lead to damage throughout the body, causing kidney disease, problems with the bones, sensitivity to light, thyroid problems, diabetes, kidney failure, weak muscles, and difficulty breathing.
Cystine starts to build up in the cells of the kidney before the child is born, causing symptoms of kidney disease by 6 months of age. This eventually leads to kidney failure in patients with nephropathic cystinosis.
Although existing organ damage cannot be reversed, disease progression can be slowed with cystine-depleting therapy, or CDT.
CDT is currently the only treatment available that can remove cystine from the body. When taken correctly, CDT lowers the amount of cystine in the cells.
PROCYSBI (cysteamine bitartrate) delayed-release capsules and delayed-release oral granules is the only CDT with 12-hour dosing which means you take it two times a day, every 12 hours.
For example, you might take PROCYSBI at 8:00 a.m. and again at 8:00 p.m. each day.
PROCYSBI works to control cystine levels continuously over 12 hours.
PROCYSBI granules, also called microbeads, are composed of medicine surrounded by a protective coating.
The coated microbeads allow the medicine to pass through the acidic stomach and into the less acidic small intestine without dissolving.
Once in the small intestine, the coating begins to dissolve and the microbeads release medicine gradually, which allows PROCYSBI to control cystine continuously over 12 hours. In order for PROCYSBI to work the way it should, it must release only in the small intestine. So it’s important to take PROCYSBI exactly as directed to prevent the medicine from being released into the stomach instead of the small intestine. This means the inside of your stomach should be acidic.
Certain foods and drinks can lower the amount of acid in your stomach, causing the medicine to be released before it reaches the small intestine. This can cause stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. This can also cause PROCYSBI to act differently in the body than it should.
This is why you should take PROCYSBI capsules with drinks like water or fruit juice (except grapefruit juice), and mix PROCYSBI granules with foods like applesauce or berry jelly, all of which are acidic, to keep the acid in your stomach higher.
It's important to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. Certain medicines, like antacids containing bicarbonate or carbonate, can lower levels of acid in the stomach.
This may cause PROCYSBI to release too soon into the stomach. You should take PROCYSBI at least 1 hour before or after taking medicines that contain bicarbonate or carbonate. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you begin taking a new medicine.
Don't eat fatty foods right before or after taking PROCYSBI because fat in the small intestine will reduce the absorption of PROCYSBI.
Do not drink alcohol while taking PROCYSBI. Alcohol may cause PROCYSBI to be released too quickly, which affects how well PROCYSBI works and may cause serious side effects.
Your doctor should order a blood test to check the amount of cystine in your blood cells. This helps the doctor decide if you need a change in your dose of PROCYSBI. It’s recommended that your cystine levels be checked at least twice a year. Work with your doctor to create a schedule that’s right for you.
It’s important to remember that nephropathic cystinosis is a lifelong disease that causes damage over time without proper treatment.
This is why it’s important to take PROCYSBI as prescribed, the same way and at the same time every day to help control your cystine levels. Because, without regular treatment, cystine will build up and cause organ damage throughout the body even if you may look and feel fine.
We all have busy lives, and it can be hard to balance your treatments with your personal life, especially if you’re feeling fine! But I know it’s important, so I create a schedule that works for me. I set up my medicine for the week on Saturday in separate containers. I have timers on my nightstand and on my phone that alarm 5 minutes before and after it’s time to take my PROCYSBI. I set 3-4 alarms so I won’t forget! I always take my PROCYSBI capsules the same way, with water, at the same times every day. My doctor helped me to come up with a meal plan that works best for me, too.
Taking charge of my cystinosis at a young age has definitely helped me to become more responsible and independent. But I know there’s always a group of people around me who support me. If you’re just starting PROCYSBI, or are having trouble keeping up with your doses, talk to your doctor for more information and to create a routine that works for you. And remember, cystinosis doesn’t define you, you define cystinosis!
USE and IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is PROCYSBI?
PROCYSBI (cysteamine bitartrate) delayed-release capsules is a prescription medicine used to treat a medical condition called nephropathic cystinosis in adults and children 1 year of age and older. It is not known if PROCYSBI is safe and effective in children under 1 year of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important safety information I should know about PROCYSBI?
PROCYSBI can cause serious side effects, including:
- Skin, bone, and joint problems. People treated with high doses of cysteamine bitartrate may develop abnormal changes of their skin and bones, such as stretch marks, bone injuries (such as fractures), bone deformities, and joint problems. Check your skin while taking PROCYSBI. Tell your doctor if you notice any skin changes or problems with your bones or joints. Your doctor will check you for these problems.
- Skin rash. Skin rash is common with cysteamine bitartrate and may sometimes be severe. Your dose of PROCYSBI may need to be decreased until the rash goes away. If the rash is severe, your doctor may tell you to stop taking PROCYSBI. Tell your doctor right away if you get a skin rash.
- Stomach and bowel (intestinal) problems. Some people who take other medicines that contain cysteamine bitartrate develop ulcers and bleeding in their stomach or bowel. Tell your doctor right away if you get stomach-area pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or vomit blood.
- Central nervous system symptoms. Some people who take other medicines that contain cysteamine bitartrate develop seizures, depression, and become very sleepy. The medicine may affect how your brain is working (encephalopathy). Tell your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms.
- Low white blood cell count and certain abnormal liver function blood tests. Your doctor should check you for these problems.
- Benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) has happened in some people who take immediate-release cysteamine bitartrate. This is a condition where there is high pressure in the fluid around the brain. Your doctor should do eye examinations to find and treat this problem early. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any of the following symptoms while taking PROCYSBI: headache, buzzing or "whooshing" sound in the ear, dizziness, nausea, double vision, blurry vision, loss of vision, pain behind the eye, or pain with eye movement.
Who should not take PROCYSBI?
Do not take PROCYSBI if you are allergic to penicillamine or cysteamine.
What should I tell my doctor before taking PROCYSBI?
Tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, including if you:
- drink alcohol.
- have a skin rash or bone problems.
- have or have had stomach or bowel (intestinal) problems including ulcers or bleeding.
- have a history of seizures, lack of energy, unusual sleepiness, depression, or changes in your ability to think clearly.
- have liver or blood problems.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if PROCYSBI will harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you think that you are pregnant. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking PROCYSBI during pregnancy.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed during treatment with PROCYSBI. Talk with your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take PROCYSBI.
What should I avoid while taking PROCYSBI?
- Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how PROCYSBI affects you. PROCYSBI can make you sleepy or less alert than normal.
- Do not drink alcohol if you take PROCYSBI. Drinking alcohol while taking PROCYSBI may change how PROCYSBI works and may cause an increase in the amount of PROCYSBI in your blood that may cause serious side effects.
What are the possible side effects of PROCYSBI?
The most common side effects of PROCYSBI include: vomiting, nausea, stomach (abdominal) pain, breath odor, diarrhea, skin odor, tiredness, skin rash, headache, problems with body salts or electrolytes.
These are not all of the possible side effects of PROCYSBI. Call your doctor for medical information about side effects.
You are encouraged to report all the possible side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch to call 1-800-FDA-1088.
