Succimer Dosage
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 30, 2024.
Applies to the following strengths: 100 mg
Usual Pediatric Dose for:
Additional dosage information:
Usual Pediatric Dose for Lead Poisoning - Severe
1 year or older:
Initial dose: 10 mg/kg or 350 mg/m2 orally every 8 hours for five days
Maintenance dose: 10 mg/kg or 350 mg/m2 orally every 12 hours for 14 days
8 kg to 15 kg:
Initial dose: 100 mg orally every 8 hours for five days
Maintenance dose: 100 mg orally every 12 hours for 14 days
16 kg to 23 kg:
Initial dose: 200 mg orally every 8 hours for five days
Maintenance dose: 200 mg orally every 12 hours for 14 days
24 kg to 34 kg:
Initial dose: 300 mg orally every 8 hours for five days
Maintenance dose: 300 mg orally every 12 hours for 14 days
35 kg to 44 kg:
Initial dose: 400 mg orally every 8 hours for five days
Maintenance dose: 400 mg orally every 12 hours for 14 days
45 kg or greater:
Initial dose: 500 mg orally every 8 hours for five days
Maintenance dose: 500 mg orally every 12 hours for 14 days
Comments:
- Do not use for prophylaxis of lead poisoning in a lead-containing environment.
- Always identify and remove the source of the lead exposure.
- May repeat courses if indicated by weekly blood lead concentration levels, with a minimum of two weeks between courses unless blood lead levels necessitate more rapid treatment.
Use: Treatment of lead poisoning in pediatric patients with blood lead levels above 45 mcg/dL
Renal Dose Adjustments
Use with caution.
Liver Dose Adjustments
Data not available
- Close monitoring is recommended for patients with a history of liver disease.
Dose Adjustments
Neutropenia:
- Withhold or discontinue if absolute neutrophil count (ANC) falls below 1200/mcL; follow patient closely until recovery of ANC to over 1500/mcL or the patients baseline level.
- Due to limited experience with re-exposure in patients who experienced neutropenia, use this drug only if therapy clearly outweighs the risk of another neutropenic episode and monitor the patient closely.
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Hypersensitivity to the drug
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 12 months.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
- Limited data suggests succimer is dialyzable, but not the lead chelates.
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- The capsule may be opened, and the contents administered on a small amount of food for those unable to swallow the capsules.
Monitoring:
- Neutropenia has been reported with drugs in this chemical class.
- A complete blood count, including white blood cell differential and direct platelet counts should be performed prior to therapy and weekly during treatment, also if infection is suspected.
- Withhold or discontinue if absolute neutrophil count (ANC) falls below 1200/mcL; follow patient closely until recovery of ANC to over 1500/mcL or the patients baseline level.
- Due to limited experience with re-exposure in patients who experienced neutropenia, use this drug only if therapy clearly outweighs the risk of another neutropenic episode and monitor the patient closely.
Patient advice:
- Advise patients to report signs of infection promptly.
- Advise patients to maintain adequate fluid intake.
More about succimer
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Side effects
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: chelating agents
- En español
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Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.