One antidote for cyanide poisoning, nitrite (i.e. via amyl nitrite), works by converting ferrohemoglobin to ferrihemoglobin, which can then compete with COX for free cyanide (as the cyanide will bind to the iron in its heme groups instead).
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Is sodium nitrite effective in the treatment of cyanide toxicity?
Amyl Nitrite for the treatment of cyanide toxicity Amyl nitrite relaxes the vascular smooth muscle, decreases arterial blood pressure, reduces left ventricular work, and decreases myocardial oxygen consumption.
What are the treatments for cyanide poisoning?
Jan 25, 2018 · You can also find cyanide in certain nitrile compounds used in medications like citalopram (Celexa) and cimetidine (Tagamet). Nitriles aren’t …
What is potassium cyanide used for?
May 10, 1952 · In 1932 Geiger 1 began to use methylene blue in treatment of cyanide poisoning. The antidotal action of the dye was shown by Wendel 2 and Hug 3 to be due to the formation of methemoglobin, which successfully competes with the respiratory enzyme, ferricytochrome oxidase, for cyanide ions. Subsequent reports 4 indicate that methylene blue is not an efficient …
Should amyl nitrite be administered in mass casualty cyanide poisoning?
Cyanide has gained historical notoriety as a poison used with intent to cause fatality. Its occurrence in industry is confined to a small number of uses in a relatively narrow range of industries, including the manufacture of Perspex and nylon and in electroplating. With proper controls in these settings, episodes of poisoning are extremely rare.
Why Nitrites are used in cyanide poisoning?
What is the role of sodium nitrate in cyanide poisoning?
Which nitrate salt is used in cyanide poisoning?
Which drug is used for cyanide poisoning?
What is sodium nitrate used to treat?
What is sodium nitrate used for?
Why sodium thiosulphate is used in cyanide poisoning?
Is Sodium Nitrate an antidote?
How does oxygen help cyanide poisoning?
What is cyanide in real life?
What is cyanide? Cyanide is one of the most famous poisons — from spy novels to murder mysteries, it’s developed a reputation for causing an almost immediate death. But in real life, cyanide is a little more complicated. Cyanide can refer to any chemical that contains a carbon-nitrogen (CN) bond, and it can be found in some surprising places.
What is cyanide in food?
Cyanide can refer to any chemical that contains a carbon-nitrogen (CN) bond, and it can be found in some surprising places. For example, it’s found in many safe-to-eat plant foods, including almonds, lima beans, soy, and spinach. like citalopram (Celexa) and cimetidine (Tagamet).
What foods contain cyanide?
For example, it’s found in many safe-to-eat plant foods, including almonds, lima beans, soy, and spinach. You can also find cyanide in certain nitrile compounds used in medications. Trusted Source. like citalopram (Celexa) and cimetidine (Tagamet).
What are the deadly forms of cyanide?
Deadly forms of cyanide include: These forms can appear as solids, liquids, or gases. You’re most likely to encounter one of these forms during a building fire. Keep reading to learn how to recognize the symptoms of cyanide poisoning, who’s most at risk, and what treatment options are available.
Is cyanide poisoning rare?
Acute cyanide poisoning is relatively rare , and the majority of cases are from unintentional exposure. When it does occur, symptoms are sudden and severe. You may experience: If you suspect that you or a loved one is experiencing acute cyanide poisoning, seek immediate emergency medical attention.
Can nail polish remover cause cyanide poisoning?
You may also be at risk for cyanide poisoning if you: use excessive amounts of nail polish remover containing organic cyanide compounds like acetonitrile (methyl cyanide) ingest excessive amounts of certain plant-based foods, such as apricot kernels, cherry rocks, and peach pits.
What happens if you poison cyanide?
If left untreated, acute or chronic cyanide poisoning may cause: seizure. cardiac arrest. coma. In some cases, cyanide poisoning may result in death. If you suspect you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of severe cyanide poisoning, seek immediate emergency medical attention.
Is cyanide a poison?
Cyanide has gained historical notoriety as a poison used with intent to cause fatality. Its occurrence in industry is confined to a small number of uses in a relatively narrow range of industries, including the manufacture of Perspex and nylon and in electroplating.
Is perspex poisoning rare?
With proper controls in these settings, episodes of poisoning are extremely rare.
Is amyl nitrite used in mass casualty poisoning?
Conclusions: Administration of amyl nitrite in mass casualty cyanide poisoning can result in unnecessary morbidity and may interfere with the proper management of the incident and the required supportive treatment and rapid evacuation. In the authors' opinion these drawbacks make the use of amyl nitrite in pre-hospital mass casualty cyanide ...
Is Amyl Nitrite a cyanide?
Context: Amyl nitrite has been recommended as a cyanide antidote for several decades. Its antidotal properties were initially attributed to induction of methemoglobin and later to a nitric oxide mediated hemodynamic effect.
What is IV drug?
The drug of choice in this group is sodium thiosulfate (IV). Toxicity is minimal other than acting as an osmotic diuretic action that in itself may be beneficial. The onset of action, however, is quite slow. 24 Direct binding agents are based on cobalt chemistry and chelate the cyanide ion directly.
Can oxygen therapy save a life?
Oxygen therapy is also useful. If a cyanide-poisoning victim receives prompt medical care, a life can be saved. Borron et al. concluded in their study that 67% of patients with confirmed cyanide poisoning after smoke inhalation survived after successful administration of a hydroxocobalamin antidote [7].
Does cyanide poisoning cause breathlessness?
Patients present with mental status changes followed by cardiac symptoms, since cyanide first affects the brain, then the heart. The classic history of acute cyanide poisoning given by onlookers is an “inspiratory gasp” that is followed by hyperventilation, severe anxiety, and breathlessness.
What is the most lethal form of cyanide poisoning?
The most lethal form of cyanide poisoning is inhalation of hydrocyanic acid (HCN, prussic acid). If an inorganic cyanide such as potassium cyanide is ingested (e.g. in a suicide attempt), it is converted into HCN, which causes toxicity and even fatality. Cyanide poisoning is relatively uncommon.
What is the only antidote available in Australia?
Currently the only labeled antidote available in Australia is dicobalt edetate, known as Kelocyanor.
What is the best treatment for cyanide poisoning?
There are several antidotes for cyanide poisoning, including inhalation of amyl nitrate and administration of sodium thiosulfate, sodium nitrate, ferrous sulfate, dicobalt edentate, or hydroxocobalamin. Oxygen therapy is also useful. If a cyanide-poisoning victim receives prompt medical care, a life can be saved.
Is metHb more toxic than cyanide?
CyanmetHb is no more toxic than metHb, and cells containing it can be eliminated by normal body processes. The cyanide bound to metHb is always in equilibrium with free CN −, and this uncomplexed cyanide is converted to thiocyanate (SCN −; nontoxic) by administration of thiosulfate ( Chapter 6 ).
2. Chemical Defense therapeutic area (s)
Sodium nitrite can be used for treatment of acute cyanide poisoning in combination with sodium thiosulfate.
4. Pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetics data
Sodium nitrite is a strong oxidant, and reacts rapidly with hemoglobin to form methemoglobin. The pharmacokinetics of free sodium nitrite in humans have not been well studied.
7. Current off label utilization and dosing
Cyanide Antidote Package (Amyl Nitrite Inhalants: 0.3 mL [12 ampoules], Sodium Nitrite: 200 mg/10 mL [2 ampoules], Sodium Thiosulfate: 12.5 mg/50 mL [2 viles]). Cyanide poisoning (adult dosage): apply 1 ampoule of Amyl Nitrite to a handkerchief and hold in front of patient's mouth for 15 seconds followed by a rest for 15 seconds.
9. Adverse effects
Warning: life threatening hypotension and methemoglobin formation Sodium nitrite can cause serious adverse reactions and death in humans, even at doses less than twice the recommended therapeutic dose. Sodium nitrite causes hypotension and methemoglobin formation, which diminishes oxygen carrying capacity.
10. Contraindication (s)
None, but sodium nitrite should be used with caution in the presence of other drugs that may cause methemoglobinemia such as procaine and nitroprusside. Sodium nitrite should be used with caution in patients who may be particularly susceptible to injury from vasodilation and its related hemodynamic sequelae.
11. Clinical studies in progress
Title: Safety, Tolerability, and PK Parameters of Sodium Nitrite Inhalation Solution in Healthy Subjects.
13. Needed studies for Chemical Defense clinical indication
A better understanding of the mechanism of action of cyanide at the molecular level is needed.
Is nitrate excreted in urine a product of endogenous biosynthesis?
Dietary studies carried out by Mitchell et al 1 at the beginning of the 20th century established that the amounts of nitrate excreted in the urine are higher than those ingested with the food, suggesting that the excess nitrate must be a product of endogenous biosynthesis.
What is the importance of potassium nitrate?
The Chinese invented gunpowder around 800 CE, and with its appearance in Europe during the 13th century, potassium nitrate became strategically important. Demand increased further with the Agricultural Revolution of the 19th century and the use of nitrates as fertilizers. Natural sources were eventually supplemented by synthetically produced nitrate at the beginning of the last century. 13
Is nitrite a vasodilator?
Nitrite as a Vasodilator. The scope of this review is limited to inorganic nitrite and nitrate, but interest in a medical role for inorganic nitrite was first aroused because of the spectacular success of organic nitrites and related compounds in the treatment of angina pectoris.
Why did Brunton 21 say that the pain of angina could be lessened by venesection?
However, while working at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in the 1860s, Brunton 21 noted that the pain of angina could be lessened by venesection and wrongly concluded that the pain must be due to elevated blood pressure. As a treatment for angina, the reduction of circulating blood by venesection was inconvenient.
Is potassium nitrite a vasodilator?
In view of the range of organic nitrites and related compounds that act as vasodilators, it is not surprising that potassium and sodium nitrites were tested in this regard. In 1880, Reichert and Mitchell 31 published a very full account of the biological action of potassium nitrite on humans and animals.
Does sodium nitrite cause stomach pain?
Blumgarten 40 noted that sodium and potassium nitrites often caused nausea, belching, stomachache, and diarrhea. Although these side effects may have caused physicians to hesitate in prescribing sodium nitrite for angina, another event precipitated the fall of inorganic nitrite from favor (see below).
Is nitrite a poison?
Nitrite as an Antidote for Cyanide and Hydrogen Sulfide Poisoning. In popular literature, cyanide (CN −) is considered the acme of human poisons. In fact, it is by no means the most poisonous substance generally available, but it acts very rapidly, and it is on this rapid action that its reputation rests.