It is given by slow injection into a vein.Side effects can include low blood pressure, headache, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, and vomiting. Greater care should be taken in people with underlying heart disease. The patients levels of methemoglobin should be regularly checked during treatment. While not well studied during pregnancy, there is some evidence of potential harm to the baby. Sodium nitrite is believed to work by creating methemoglobin that then binds with cyanide and thus removes it from the mitochondria.Sodium nitrite came into medical use in the 1920s and 1930s. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. Suicide
Several academic publications in 2020 and 2021 have discussed the toxicity of sodium nitrite, and an apparent recent increase in suicides from using sodium nitrite which had been ordered online. The usage of sodium nitrite as a suicide method has been heavily discussed on suicide forums. Sodium nitrite was also the culprit of the McCarthy et al v Amazon lawsuit alleging that Amazon knowingly assisted in the deaths of healthy children by selling them "suicide kits" as Amazons "frequently bought together" feature recommended buying sodium nitrate, an antiemetic and a suicide instruction book together. Toxicity
Sodium nitrite is toxic. The LD50 in rats is 180 mg/kg and in human LDLo is 71 mg/kg. Yet, death by sodium nitrite ingestion can happen at lower dose. Sodium nitrite is sometimes used for homicide. The online marketplace eBay has globally prohibited the sale of sodium nitrite since 2019.
Rh deficiency syndrome is a type of hemolytic anemia that involves erythrocytes whom membranes are deficient in Rh antigens. It is considered a rare condition. See also
List of hematologic conditions
RHAG

References


== External links ==