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About Cyanide Poisoning

Cyanide Sources and Exposure

Sources of cyanide poisoning include hydrogen cyanide and its salts, cyanogenic plants, aliphatic nitriles, and prolonged exposure to sodium nitroprusside. Cyanide poisoning may result from inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure to various cyanide-containing compounds, including smoke from closed-space fires.1

Signs and Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning include1:
SymptomsSigns
  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Dyspnea
  • Chest tightness
  • Nausea
  • Altered mental status (e.g., confusion, disorientation)
  • Seizures or coma
  • Mydriasis
  • Tachypnea/Hyperpnea (early)
  • Bradypnea/Apnea (late)
  • Hypertension (early)/Hypotension (late)
  • Cardiovascular collapse
  • Vomiting
  • Plasma lactate concentration ≥8 mmol/L

Diagnosing Cyanide Poisoning May Be Difficult

The presence and extent of cyanide poisoning are often initially unknown. There is no widely available, rapid, confirmatory cyanide blood test. Treatment decisions must be made on the basis of clinical history and signs and symptoms of cyanide intoxication.1

Plasma lactate level could be monitored, as it increases proportionally with the degree of cyanide poisoning, but it is not a definite diagnostic tool. If cyanide poisoning is suspected, treatment should not be delayed to obtain a plasma lactate concentration.1,2

Where There’s Smoke, There May Be Cyanide3

Although carbon monoxide is a well-known toxin in fire smoke, cyanide can be an overlooked danger.3 Cyanide is often released when everyday items found in most homes and businesses combust, making smoke inhalation the most common cause of acute cyanide poisoning.4

With signs and symptoms similar to carbon monoxide poisoning, cyanide poisoning can be difficult to recognize. Despite the similarities, quick diagnosis is essential.1

Common Signs and Symptoms of Cyanide and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning1,5

CYANIDECOMMON TO BOTHCARBON MONOXIDE
  • Chest tightness
  • Altered mental status
    (e.g., confusion, disorientation)
  • Mydriasis
  • Tachypnea/Hyperpnea (late)
  • Bradypnea/Apnea (late)
  • Hypertension (early)/
    Hypotension (late)
  • Cardiovascular collapse
  • Plasma lactate concentration
    ≥8 mmol/L
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Dyspnea
  • Coma
  • Seizure
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo
  • Irritability
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Fatigue
  • Delirium
  • Ataxia
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Chest pain
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Stroke

Recognizing Cyanide Poisoning in Smoke-Inhalation Victims

Cyanide poisoning in smoke-inhalation victims should be suspected if the following manifestations are present1*:

  • Exposure to fire or smoke
    in an enclosed area
  • Soot around the mouth,
    nose, or back of mouth
  • Altered mental status
    (e.g., confusion, disorientation)

*List may not be comprehensive

Also indicative of cyanide poisoning is a plasma lactate concentration ≥10 mmol/L (a value higher than that typically listed in the table above of signs and symptoms of isolated cyanide poisoning because carbon monoxide associated with smoke inhalation also contributes to lactic acidemia).1

IF YOU SUSPECT CYANIDE POISONING, ADMINISTER CYANOKIT IMMEDIATELY.1

INDICATION
CYANOKIT is indicated for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning.
Important Safety Information and Indication
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Emergency Patient Management

  • In conjunction with CYANOKIT, treatment of cyanide poisoning must include immediate attention to airway patency, adequacy of oxygenation and hydration, cardiovascular support, and management of seizures. Consideration should be given to decontamination measures based on the route of exposure.

Risk of Anaphylaxis and Other Hypersensitivity Reactions
  • Consider alternative therapies, if available, in patients with known anaphylactic reactions to hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin.
  • Allergic reactions may include: anaphylaxis, chest tightness, edema, urticaria, pruritus, dyspnea, and rash. Allergic reactions including angioneurotic edema have also been reported in postmarketing experience.

Risk of Renal Injury
  • Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis, renal impairment and urine calcium oxalate crystals have been reported following CYANOKIT therapy. Monitor renal function for 7 days following CYANOKIT therapy.

Risk of Increased Blood Pressure
  • Substantial increases in blood pressure may occur following CYANOKIT therapy. Monitor blood pressure during therapy.

Laboratory Tests
  • Because of its deep red color, hydroxocobalamin has been found to interfere with colorimetric determination of certain laboratory parameters (e.g., clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, and urine parameters). Be aware of this when reporting and interpreting laboratory results.
  • While determination of blood cyanide concentration is not required for management of cyanide poisoning and should not delay treatment with CYANOKIT, collecting a pretreatment blood sample may be useful for documenting cyanide poisoning as sampling post-CYANOKIT use may be inaccurate.

Clinical Methods
  • Because of its deep red color, hydroxocobalamin may cause hemodialysis machines to shut down due to an erroneous detection of a “blood leak”. This should be considered before hemodialysis is initiated in patients treated with hydroxocobalamin.

Photosensitivity
  • Hydroxocobalamin absorbs visible light in the UV spectrum. It therefore has potential to cause photosensitivity. While it is not known if the skin redness predisposes to photosensitivity, patients should be advised to avoid direct sun while their skin remains discolored.

Pregnancy and Lactation
  • Available data from cases reported in the published literature and postmarketing surveillance with CYANOKIT use in pregnant women are insufficient to identify a drug-associated risk for major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. There are risks to the pregnant woman and fetus associated with untreated cyanide poisoning. In animal studies, hydroxocobalamin administered to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis caused skeletal and soft tissue abnormalities, including alterations in the central nervous system, at exposures similar to human exposures at the therapeutic dose.
  • Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with CYANOKIT.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
  • The most common adverse reactions (>5%) include transient chromaturia, erythema, oxalate crystals in urine, rash, increased blood pressure, nausea, headache and infusion site reactions.

INDICATION

CYANOKIT is indicated for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning.
Important Safety Information and Indication
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Emergency Patient Management

  • In conjunction with CYANOKIT, treatment of cyanide poisoning must include immediate attention to airway patency, adequacy of oxygenation and hydration, cardiovascular support, and management of seizures. Consideration should be given to decontamination measures based on the route of exposure.

Risk of Anaphylaxis and Other Hypersensitivity Reactions
  • Consider alternative therapies, if available, in patients with known anaphylactic reactions to hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin.
  • Allergic reactions may include: anaphylaxis, chest tightness, edema, urticaria, pruritus, dyspnea, and rash. Allergic reactions including angioneurotic edema have also been reported in postmarketing experience.

Risk of Renal Injury
  • Acute renal failure with acute tubular necrosis, renal impairment and urine calcium oxalate crystals have been reported following CYANOKIT therapy. Monitor renal function for 7 days following CYANOKIT therapy.

Risk of Increased Blood Pressure
  • Substantial increases in blood pressure may occur following CYANOKIT therapy. Monitor blood pressure during therapy.

Laboratory Tests
  • Because of its deep red color, hydroxocobalamin has been found to interfere with colorimetric determination of certain laboratory parameters (e.g., clinical chemistry, hematology, coagulation, and urine parameters). Be aware of this when reporting and interpreting laboratory results.
  • While determination of blood cyanide concentration is not required for management of cyanide poisoning and should not delay treatment with CYANOKIT, collecting a pretreatment blood sample may be useful for documenting cyanide poisoning as sampling post-CYANOKIT use may be inaccurate.

Clinical Methods
  • Because of its deep red color, hydroxocobalamin may cause hemodialysis machines to shut down due to an erroneous detection of a “blood leak”. This should be considered before hemodialysis is initiated in patients treated with hydroxocobalamin.

Photosensitivity
  • Hydroxocobalamin absorbs visible light in the UV spectrum. It therefore has potential to cause photosensitivity. While it is not known if the skin redness predisposes to photosensitivity, patients should be advised to avoid direct sun while their skin remains discolored.

Pregnancy and Lactation
  • Available data from cases reported in the published literature and postmarketing surveillance with CYANOKIT use in pregnant women are insufficient to identify a drug-associated risk for major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. There are risks to the pregnant woman and fetus associated with untreated cyanide poisoning. In animal studies, hydroxocobalamin administered to pregnant rats and rabbits during the period of organogenesis caused skeletal and soft tissue abnormalities, including alterations in the central nervous system, at exposures similar to human exposures at the therapeutic dose.
  • Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with CYANOKIT.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
  • The most common adverse reactions (>5%) include transient chromaturia, erythema, oxalate crystals in urine, rash, increased blood pressure, nausea, headache and infusion site reactions.