Sodium nitrite (medical use)

Sodium nitrite is used as a medication together with sodium thiosulfate to treat cyanide poisoning.[1] It is only recommended in severe cases of cyanide poisoning.[2] In those who have both cyanide poisoning and carbon monoxide poisoning sodium thiosulfate by itself is usually recommended.[3] It is given by slow injection into a vein.[1]

For broader coverage of this topic, see Sodium nitrite.
Sodium nitrite
Chemical structure
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.comFDA Professional Drug Information
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: Exempt
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
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Chemical and physical data
FormulaNNaO2
Molar mass68.995 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)

Side effects can include low blood pressure, headache, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, and vomiting.[1] Greater care should be taken in people with underlying heart disease.[1] People's levels of methemoglobin should be regularly checked during treatment.[1] While not well studied during pregnancy, there is some evidence of potential harm to the baby.[4] Sodium nitrite is believed to work by creating methemoglobin that then binds with cyanide and thus removes it from the mitochondria.[4]

Sodium nitrite came into medical use in the 1920s and 1930s.[5][6] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7]

References
  1. World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 65. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  2. "Sodium Nitrite Solution for Injection - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  3. Baren, Jill M. (2008). Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 1018. ISBN 978-1416000877. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
  4. "Sodium Nitrite Injection - FDA prescribing information, side effects and uses". www.drugs.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18.
  5. Dart, Richard C. (2004). Medical Toxicology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 172. ISBN 9780781728454. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
  6. Bryan, Nathan S.; Loscalzo, Joseph (2011). Nitrite and Nitrate in Human Health and Disease. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 226. ISBN 9781607616160. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16.
  7. World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
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