Dicobalt edetate cyanide poisoning

Dicobalt edetate. Cobalt forms stable, nontoxic complexes with cyanide. It is toxic (especially if the wrong diagnosis is made and no cyanide is present), causing hypertension, tachycardia and chest pain consequent cobalt poisoning is treated by giving sodium calcium edetate and i.v. glucose. 

Other than for chelation therapy, in which the ligand is generally administered by slow, intravenous infusion, EDTA has been used in creams and ointments, pharmaceuticals, oils, soaps, bath preparations, cosmetics, and in hair dyes and permanent waving solutions. A novel application of an EDTA chelate is the use of the dicobalt chelate (dicobalt edetate) as an antidote in cyanide poisoning the CN ion forms a strong ionic complex with the Co ions in the chelate to form a relatively non-toxic and readily excretable species. 

B. Treatment. Successful treatment for acute cyanide poisoning depends upon rapid fixation of the cyanide ion, either by methemoglobin (metHB) formation or by fixation with cobalt compounds. Drug treatments include, compounds producing Methemoglobin, Hydroxyocobalamin, and Dicobalt edetate. Any casualty who is fully conscious and breathing... 

Dicobalt edetate injection, sodium nitrite injection and sodium thiosulfate injection Cyanide poisoning... 

Marrs TC. Dicobalt edetate (Kelocyanor). In Meredith TJ, Jacobsen D, Haines JA, Berger J-C, van Heijst ANP, eds. Antidotes for Poisoning by Cyanide. Vol 2. In International Program on Chemical Safety/Commission of the European Communities Evaluation of Antidotes Series. Geneva, Switzerland World Health Organization and Commission of the European Communities 1993 79-94. Publication EUR 14280 EN. 

Hillman B, Bardhan KD, Bain JTB. 1974. The use of dicobalt edetate (Kelocyanor) in cyanide poisoning. Postgraduate Medical Journal 50 171-174. 

Acute treatment of cyanide poisoning given together with sodium thiosulphate as an alternative to dicobalt edetate. 

Acute treatment of cyanide poisoning as an alternative to dicobalt edetate, sodium nitrite or sodium thiosulphate. However, its use should ideally be discussed with a poisons information centre first. 

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