Editing Wilson's disease (section)

===Medication===
Medical treatments are available for Wilson's disease. Some increase the removal of copper from the body, while others prevent the absorption of copper from the diet.

Generally, penicillamine is the first treatment used. This binds to copper (by [[chelation]]) and leads to excretion of copper in the urine. Hence, monitoring of the amount of copper in the urine can be done to ensure a sufficiently high dose is taken. Penicillamine is not without problems; about 20% experience a side effect or complication of penicillamine treatment, such as drug-induced [[systemic lupus erythematosus|lupus]] (causing joint pains and a skin rash) or [[myasthenia gravis|myasthenia]] (a nerve condition leading to muscle weakness). In those who presented with neurological symptoms, almost half experience a paradoxical worsening in their symptoms. While this phenomenon is observed in other treatments for Wilson's, it is usually taken as an indication for discontinuing penicillamine and commencing second-line treatment.<ref name=Ala/><ref name=Roberts2003/> Those intolerant to penicillamine may instead be commenced on [[trientine hydrochloride]], which also has chelating properties. Some recommend trientine as first-line treatment, but experience with penicillamine is more extensive.<ref name=Roberts2003/> A further agent with known activity in Wilson's disease, under clinical investigation by [[Wilson Therapeutics]], is [[bis-choline tetrathiomolybdate|tetrathiomolybdate]]. It is regarded as experimental,<ref name=Roberts2003/> though some studies have shown a beneficial effect.<ref name=Ala/>

Once all results have returned to normal, [[zinc]] (usually in the form of a [[zinc acetate]] prescription called Galzin) may be used instead of chelators to maintain stable copper levels in the body. Zinc stimulates [[metallothionein]], a protein in gut cells that binds copper and prevents its absorption and transport to the liver. Zinc therapy is continued unless symptoms recur or if the urinary excretion of copper increases.<ref name=Roberts2003/>

In rare cases where none of the oral treatments is effective, especially with severe neurological disease, [[dimercaprol]] (British anti-Lewisite) is occasionally necessary. This treatment is injected [[Intramuscular injection|intramuscularly]] (into a muscle) every few weeks and has unpleasant side effects such as pain.<ref name=Walshe1996>{{cite journal |author=Walshe JM |title=Treatment of Wilson's disease: the historical background |journal=QJM |volume=89 |issue=7 |pages=553–55 |date=July 1996 |pmid=8759497 |doi=10.1093/qjmed/89.7.553|doi-access=free }}</ref>

People who are [[asymptomatic]] (for instance, those diagnosed through family screening or only as a result of abnormal test results) are generally treated, as the copper accumulation may cause long-term damage in the future. Whether these people are best treated with penicillamine or zinc acetate is unclear.<ref name=Roberts2003/>