Dimercaprol

Dosage Forms

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Injection in oil

50 mg/ml

Uses

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Acute poisoning by antimony, arsenic, bismuth, gold, mercury, possibly thallium
Adjunct in lead poisoning

Dose and Duration

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Acute poisoning and adjunct in lead poisoning (in combination with sodium calcium edetate)

Adult and child: by IM injection, 2.5–3 mg/kg every 4 hours for the first 2 days, then 3 mg/kg every 6–12 hours on the 3rd day and 3 mg/kg every 12–24 hours for 10 days or until the patient recovers

Contraindications

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Iron, selenium and cadmium poisoning
Severe hepatic impairment unless it is due to arsenic poisoning
Hypersensitivity to dimercaprol

Side Effects

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Hypertension, tachycardia
Malaise, headache
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, salivation
Lacrimation, sweating
Burning sensation in the mouth, throat and eyes, feeling of constriction in the throat and chest
Muscle spasm, tingling in extremities
Pyrexia in children
Local pain and abscess at injection site

Interactions

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Ferrous salts (formation of toxic complexes with dimercaprol-avoid concomitant use)

Pregnancy

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Can be used (see caution)

Breastfeeding

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Can be used

⚠️ Caution

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Use with caution in hypertension, pregnancy, breast feeding, in the elderly and in impaired renal function
Discontinue use or use with extreme caution if renal impairment develops during treatment with dimercaprol
Assess any abnormal reaction such as pyrexia occurring after initiation of treatment to rule out renal impairment