Pentetate zinc trisodium (Intravenous, Inhalation)

Pentetate Zinc Trisodium is used to get rid of harmful substances, like plutonium, americium, or curium from your body.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

To prevent radiation contamination of other people or the environment:

• Use a normal toilet instead of a urinal
• Flush the toilet several times after each use
• Completely clean up any spilled urine with a tissue and flush it away
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after urinating or having a bowel movement
• Immediately wash clothes and linens that are soiled with urine, feces, or blood; wash them separately from other clothes

Do not swallow any solid substances that may be coughed up. Dispose of solid substances in the sink or toilet. Flush several times if placed in the toilet or flush the sink by washing your hands thoroughly with soap after disposal.

Take extra precautions when handling urine, feces, and substances coughed up by children to avoid additional exposure to the caregiver or the child.

If you are breast-feeding your baby, talk to your doctor about how long you must formula feed your baby and how to dispose of breast milk that contains harmful substances.

In deciding to use a medicine, you and your doctor need to weigh the risks against the benefits of taking the medicine. For this medicine, consider the following:

Allergies

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, let your healthcare professional know if you have any other allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients closely.

Pediatric

There is no specific information comparing the use of pentetate zinc trisodium in children to its use in other age groups. However, when given by injection, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or issues in children compared to adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been specifically studied in older adults. Therefore, it may not be clear if they work the same way in older people as they do in younger adults, or if they cause different side effects or issues. There is no specific information comparing the use of pentetate zinc trisodium in the elderly to its use in other age groups.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women to determine the risk to infants when using this medication during breastfeeding. Consider the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Some medicines should not be used together at all, while in other cases, two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might happen. In these situations, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be needed. Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or certain types of food due to possible interactions. Using alcohol or tobacco with some medicines may also cause interactions. Talk to your healthcare professional about using your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical issues, especially:

• Asthma—May be worsened by pentetate zinc trisodium given by inhalation.

• Kidney problems—May reduce the amount of harmful substances that can be removed from the body.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Also, because of the way these medicines act on the body, there is a chance that they might cause other unwanted effects that may not appear until months or years after the medicine is used. These may include certain types of cancer, such as leukemia or bladder cancer. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence unknown

• Cough
• headache
• lightheadedness
• pelvic pain
• wheezing

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Heavy Metal Chelator

Harmful substances may accumulate in your bladder. Therefore, to increase the flow of urine and decrease the time your bladder contains these harmful substances, your doctor may instruct you to drink plenty of liquids and urinate often while being treated with pentetate zinc trisodium to help eliminate the harmful substances.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For inhalation dosage form: To help with the removal of harmful substances in individuals breathing in the harmful substances Adults—1 gram once a day. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For parenteral dosage form:To help with the removal of harmful substances in individuals exposed by some other way than breathing in the substances Adults—1 gram once a day. Children—14 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) once a day, not to exceed 1 gram.