Sodium Nitrite

Sodium Nitrite is part of the drug class:

• Antidotes

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about sodium nitrite, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about sodium nitrite. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using sodium nitrite.

Review Date: October 4, 2017

Applies to sodium nitrite: intravenous solution

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of methemoglobinemia like a blue or gray color of the lips, nails, or skin; a heartbeat that does not feel normal; seizures; very bad dizziness or passing out; very bad headache; feeling very sleepy; feeling tired or weak; or shortness of breath.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• A fast heartbeat.
• Feeling confused.
• Blurred eyesight.
• Numbness and tingling.

Sodium nitrite has been formally assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Sodium nitrite has caused fetal death in humans as well as animals. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Sodium nitrite is only recommended for use during pregnancy when there are no alternatives and only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Sodium nitrite produces methemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin is oxidized to methemoglobin more readily than adult hemoglobin. In addition, the fetus has lower levels of methemoglobin reductase than adults. Collectively, this suggests that the human fetus would show greater sensitivity to methemoglobin which could result in nitrite induced prenatal hypoxia. This hypoxia could, in turn, lead to retarded development of certain neurotransmitter systems in the brain and long lasting dysfunction.