Sodium Nitrite Injection 3%

Contains 30 mg/mL Sodium Nitrite

Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about Sodium Nitrite Injection. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of being given Sodium Nitrite Injection against the benefits they expect it will have for you. If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor. Keep this leaflet in a safe place. You may need to read it again.

Before you are given Sodium Nitrite Injection

When you must not be given it
You should not be given Sodium Nitrite Injection unless you have the symptoms of severe cyanide poisoning. Symptoms of severe poisoning are loss of consciousness. You should not be given this medicine if you are suffering from smoke inhalation. It may increase the symptoms of smoke inhalation. You should not be given this medicine if you are also suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. It may increase the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. You should not be given this medicine if the solution is discoloured, cloudy, turbid, or a precipitate or particles are present. The solution is normally a clear, colourless liquid. You should not be given Sodium Nitrite Injection if it causes a precipitate, discolouration or cloudiness to form when added to an intravenous (IV) solution. You should not be given this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack, or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If you are given this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well. If you are not sure whether you should be given this medicine talk to your doctor.

Before you are given it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to sodium nitrite or any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes. Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions: an inherited disorder of the blood called methaemoglobinaemia. an inherited disorder known as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. low blood pressure.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding. Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved. If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you are given Sodium Nitrite Injection.

What Sodium Nitrite Injection is used for

Sodium Nitrite Injection is used with sodium thiosulphate as a treatment for cyanide poisoning. Sodium nitrite works by helping prevent cyanide from attaching to important enzymes in the cells of your body. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Sodium Nitrite Injection has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket, health food shop or naturopath. Some medicines and Sodium Nitrite Injection may interfere with each other. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being given this medicine.

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How Sodium Nitrite Injection is given

Sodium Nitrite Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse. It is usually given as an injection into a vein. Sodium thiosulphate will be given immediately after the Sodium Nitrite Injection. Your doctor will decide what dose of Sodium Nitrite Injection you will receive and for how long you will receive it. This depends on your medical condition and other factors, such as your weight. Your blood will be monitored during treatment with Sodium Nitrite Injection to make sure you are not given too much.

Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who treat you that you have been given this medicine. If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you have been given this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests.

nausea, vomiting or stomach pain difficulty breathing bluish discolouration of the skin unusual tiredness or weakness rapid breathing, shortness of breath.

Things to be careful of
You should continue to lie down after you have been given Sodium Nitrite Injection. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how sodium nitrite affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, light-headedness or weakness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else dangerous. If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from chairs, will help your body get used to change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

After being given Sodium Nitrite Injection

Storage
Sodium Nitrite Injection will be stored in the surgery, pharmacy, or ward of a hospital. The injection is kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25C protected from light. Sodium Nitrite Injection will be opened for use on you. It will be used only once and then it will be discarded. It will never be stored after it is opened or used for more than one person.

If you are given too much (overdose)

Sodium Nitrite Injection must only be given by a doctor or nurse so an overdose is not likely to occur. Your doctor or nurse will check the effect of this on your blood. Immediately contact your doctor or nurse, or go to the Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice the following symptoms of an overdose: headache bluish discolouration of the skin and lips unusual tiredness or weakness shortness of breath extreme dizziness or fainting fast heart beat.

Side effects
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Sodium Nitrite Injection. Sodium nitrite may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects. You may not experience any of them. Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.

Product description
What it looks like
Sodium Nitrite Injection is a clear, colourless solution in a clear glass vial sealed with a grey rubber stopper and aluminium seal with a white plastic flip off cap .

Contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for further advice on overdose management.

Ingredients
Sodium Nitrite Injection contains 30 mg/mL sodium nitrite in water for injections. It is available in a 10mL vial. Sodium Nitrite Injection does not contain gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes, alcohol or any preservatives.

While you being given Sodium Nitrite Injection

Things you must do
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you have been given Sodium Nitrite Injection.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following: fainting, dizziness, light headedness fast heart beat headache Continued

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Manufacturer
Sodium Nitrite Injection is made in Australia by: Phebra Pty Ltd 332 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066 Australia Sodium Nitrite Injection 3% 30 mg/mL 10mL vial. Aust R 23074 Phebra Product Code - INJ004 This leaflet was prepared 21st June 2007. This leaflet was last amended on 30th December 2009 Version 03

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