Advanced Consumer Information

PENTETATE ZINC TRISODIUM (Systemic)†

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

Pentetate Zinc Trisodium

Other commonly used names are

Zn-DTPA

† Not commercially available in Canada.

Description

Pentetate Zinc Trisodium (PEN-te-tate zinc try-SOE-dee-um) is used to remove harmful substances, such as plutonium, americium, or curium from your body.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

Inhalation
Inhalation solution (U.S.)

Parenteral
Injection (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pentetate zinc trisodium, the following should be considered:

Pregnancy—Pentetate zinc trisodium has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that pentetate zinc trisodium causes lower birth weights. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding—It is not known if pentetate zinc trisodium passes into breast milk. However, women with known exposure to harmful substances should not breast feed, regardless of whether or not they are receiving pentetate zinc trisodium.

Children—Although there is no specific information comparing use of pentetate zinc trisodium in children with use in other age groups, this medicine, when given by injection, is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of pentetate zinc trisodium in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pentetate zinc trisodium. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

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

Kidney problems—May decrease the amount of harmful substance that can be removed from the body.

Proper Use of This Medicine

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 pentetate zinc trisodium 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 pentetate zinc trisodium. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

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.

Missed dose—Contact your doctor right away.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

To prevent radiation contamination of other persons or environment:

Using a normal toilet instead of a urinal
Flushing toilet several times after each use
Completely cleaning up any spilled urine with a tissue and flushing it away
Washing hands thoroughly with soap after urinating or a bowel movement
Immediately laundering clothes and linens soiled with urine, feces or blood; washing them separately from other clothes

Avoid swallowing any solid substances that may be coughed up. Dispose of solid substances in sink or toilet. Flush several times if put in toilet or flush sink by washing hands thoroughly with soap after disposal.

Extra precaution in handling urine, feces, and substances coughed up by children to avoid additional exposure to the care-giver or to 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 the breast milk containing harmful substances.

Side Effects of This Medicine

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 occur 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.

Other 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. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome.

Incidence unknown

Cough; headache; lightheadedness; pelvic pain; wheezing

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

Developed: 08/05/2005

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