Sodium Thiosulfate (Intravenous Route)

Sodium Thiosulfate is a drug used to reduce side effects of the anti-cancer drug Cisplatin. Sodium Thiosulfate is also used as an antidote for cyanide poisoning.

Cyanide poisoning can be caused being inside an enclosed space with burning rubber or plastic (like in case of house fires), or intentionally as suicide.

Cisplatin is used to treat cancers in the bladder, ovaries, and testes.

Sodium Thiosulfate is an injectable drug. Sodium Thiosulfate is considered an emergency treatment drug and it must be taken only with doctor’s  supervision. 

The following should be considered before taking Sodium Thiosulfate.

Allergies

Tell the doctor if you have allergies to Sodium Thiosulfate and to chemicals such as photographic fixers. You cannot use Sodium Thiosulfate if you are allergic to it.

Use on children and elderly

Sodium Thiosulfate can be used on children and elderly with doctor’s supervision.

Pregnancy

Sodium Thiosulfate may cause harm in pregnant patients. Sodium Thiosulfate is an FDA pregnancy category C drug. In an emergency situation, the doctor may consider the risks and benefits before giving Sodium Thiosulfate to pregnant patients.

Breastfeeding

If you received Sodium Thiosulfate, call the doctor first before breastfeeding.

Health conditions

Tell the doctor if you have any of the following health problems before receiving Sodium Thiosulfate:

• Swelling of the feet or hands (edema)
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Have pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, eclampsia

The doctor will determine your dose of Sodium Thiosulfate. It is usually given by slowly injecting it into a vein (intravenous route). Only a doctor or other health professionals can give you Sodium Thiosulfate.

For cyanide poisoning, Sodium Thiosulfate is given immediately in an emergency setting. For use with Cisplatin, Sodium Thiosulfate is given before and at the same time as the cancer medicine is given.

For cyanide poisoning, Sodium Thiosulfate should be given along with other emergency measures such as oxygen therapy, maintaining open airways and ventilation.  

Because health professionals will prepare and give Sodium Thiosulfate, overdosage and missing a dose is unlikely. 

Sodium Thiosulfate will only work for cyanide poisoning if given as early as possible. Cyanide is highly toxic and can cause death in minutes.

If you experience other symptoms while Sodium Thiosulfate is being infused, call the doctor at once.

The following are side effects that may be due to overdosage of Sodium Thiosulfate. If you experience any of the following, call your health provider at once:

• Agitation
• Blurring of vision
• Hallucinations
• Mental changes
• Pain in the joints
• Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and vomiting