How Do Urea Cycle Disorder Treatment Agents Work?

Urea cycle disorder treatment agents are drugs used for treating urea cycle disorder. Urea cycle disorder is a genetic condition that affects how the body removes the waste that is formed after breaking down protein. 

The body breaks down the consumed protein into amino acids and nitrogen. The liver has enzymes to break down nitrogen to urea, which is removed from the body in the urine. This entire process is called the urea cycle. In urea cycle disorder, a person does not have the necessary enzyme to convert nitrogen into urea. This leads to the build-up of ammonia in the bloodstream to a dangerously high level.

Urea cycle disorder treatment agents provide the missing enzyme required for converting nitrogen into urea.

Urea cycle disorder treatment agents are used for treating:

• Hyperammonemia (high ammonia levels)
• Urea cycle disorders
• Urea cycle enzyme deficiency

Urea cycle disorder treatment agents can cause the following side effects:

• Vomiting
• Agitation
• Anemia
• Brain edema
• Coma
• Convulsions
• Diarrhea
• Injection-site reaction
• Mental impairment
• Nausea
• Fever
• Skin disorders
• Urinary tract infection
• Abdominal pain
• Infections
• Headache

The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of urea cycle disorder treatment agents include:

• Ammonul
• Buphenyl
• Calcium acetate
• Calphron
• Carbaglu
• Carglumic acid
• Eliphos
• Glycerol phenylbutyrate
• Phenylbutyrate sodium
• PhosLo
• Phoslyra
• Ravicti
• Sodium benzoate/sodium phenylacetate
• Sodium phenylbutyrate