What Is CYANOKIT®?

CYANOKIT® is an emergency treatment (antidote) used in patients with known or suspected cyanide poisoning. Cyanide is a chemical poison. Cyanide poisoning can happen from

  • Breathing smoke from household and industrial fires
  • Breathing or swallowing cyanide
  • Having your skin exposed to cyanide

Cyanide poisoning is a life-threatening condition because cyanide stops your body from being able to use oxygen. You can die if your body does not have enough oxygen.

CYANOKIT® was approved for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning based on

  • How well it worked in animals (It is not ethical to poison people with cyanide in order to test a treatment.)
  • Its safety in people with cyanide poisoning

How Is CYANOKIT® Used?

CYANOKIT® is given through a vein (intravenous or IV) over 15 minutes by an emergency care provider or doctor. A second dose may be administered if needed.

What Are Possible Side Effects With CYANOKIT®?

Serious side effects may include

  • Allergic reactions (signs of a serious allergic reaction include chest tightness, trouble breathing, swelling, hives, itching, and a rash)
  • Increased blood pressure

Side effects may include

  • Red-colored urine
  • Red-colored skin and mucous membranes, acne-like rash
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, trouble swallowing, stomach pain
  • Throat tightness, dry throat
  • Headache, dizziness, memory problems, restlessness
  • Infusion site reaction
  • Eye swelling, irritation, or redness
  • Swelling of feet and ankles
  • Irregular heartbeat, increased heart rate
  • Fluid in lungs

There may be additional unknown side effects with CYANOKIT®.


After treatment with CYANOKIT®

  • Skin and urine redness. Skin redness may last up to 2 weeks. Avoid sun exposure while your skin is red. Urine redness may last up to 5 weeks
  • Acne-like rash. An acne-like rash may appear 7 to 28 days after treatment with CYANOKIT®. This rash usually goes away without any treatment
  • Breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed. The ingredient in CYANOKIT® may pass into your breast milk. You and your doctor can decide when and if you can breastfeed your baby again

Patient Care Information29

CYANOKIT® (hydroxocobalamin for injection) 5 g for intravenous use is indicated for the treatment of known or suspected cyanide poisoning. If clinical suspicion of cyanide poisoning is high, CYANOKIT® should be administered without delay.

Erythema and Chromaturia

Patients should be advised that skin redness (erythema) may last up to 2 weeks and red urine coloration (chromaturia) may last for up to 5 weeks after administration of CYANOKIT®. 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.

Rash

In some patients an acneiform (acne-like) rash may appear anywhere from 7 to 28 days following CYANOKIT® treatment. This rash will usually resolve without treatment within a few weeks.

Breastfeeding

Vitamin B12 is excreted in human milk. It is not known whether hydroxocobalamin is excreted in human milk. Therefore, the physician and patient should discuss if and when to resume breastfeeding in a nursing mother after CYANOKIT® use.

Talk to your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

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This Web site is intended for United States of America (U.S.A.) residents only and is subject to all applicable U.S.A. laws. CYANOKIT® is a registered trademark of Merck Santé s.a.s., licensed by Meridian Medical Technologies®, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals®, Inc. Copyright © 2010 Meridian Medical Technologies®, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals®, Inc. All rights reserved. MMT6577A 03/2010

The expert advice of a regional poison control center may be obtained by calling 1-800-222-1222.