SODIUM NITROPRUSSIDE MEDSURGE

SODIUM NITROPRUSSIDE MEDSURGE

Active ingredient(s): (Sodium Nitroprusside)

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Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using sodium nitroprusside. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using sodium nitroprusside.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge?
2. What should I know before I use Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge?
5. What should I know while using Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge?

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge contains the active ingredient Sodium nitroprusside. Sodium nitroprusside is known as a vasodilator. It works by widening blood vessels, which causes a decrease in blood pressure.

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge is used in emergency situations to quickly lower very high blood pressure (also known as hypertensive crisis).

It can also be used during surgery to keep blood pressure low in order to reduce bleeding during the surgical procedure.

It may also be used in the short-term treatment of heart failure.

Your doctor may have prescribed Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge for another reason.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge has been prescribed for you.

Sodium nitroprusside is not addictive.

This medicine is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

2. What should I know before I use Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge?

Warnings

Do not use Sodium nitroprusside if:

• You must not be given Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge if you have an allergy to sodium nitroprusside or cyanide.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to sodium nitroprusside may include:

• shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
• rash, itching or hives on the skin
• Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.

You must not be given Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

• untreated anaemia (reduced red blood cells and iron stores)
• inadequate blood supply to the brain
• low blood volume (hypovolaemia)
• acute congestive heart failure
• severe kidney disease
• any disease states associated with Vitamin B12 deficiency
• some rare conditions causing reduced vision such as Leber’s optic atrophy and tobacco amblyopia.

If you are not sure whether you should be given Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Before you are given it

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:

• any other medicines
• any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:

• raised intracranial pressure (raised pressure within the head)
• thyroid problems
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• high blood pressure
• hypothermia decreased body temperature

Check with your doctor if you:

have allergies to:

• any other medicines
• any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.

have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:

• raised intracranial pressure (raised pressure within the head)
• thyroid problems
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• high blood pressure
• hypothermia decreased body temperature).

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Your doctor will discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge is not recommended while you are breast-feeding as it is not known whether Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge passes into breast milk.

If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you are given Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and sodium nitroprusside may interfere with each other. These include:

• ganglion blocking agents
• blood pressure medications
• some anaesthetics
• some heart medications.

These medicines may be affected by sodium nitroprusside or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take/use different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.

4. How do I use Sodium nitroprusside?

How much to use

Your doctor will decide what dose of sodium nitroprusside you will receive. This depends on your condition and other factors, such as your weight.

When to use Sodium nitroprusside

• Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge is used in emergency situations to quickly lower very high blood pressure (also known as hypertensive crisis).
• It can also be used during surgery to keep blood pressure low in order to reduce bleeding during the surgical procedure.
• It may also be used in the short-term treatment of heart failure.

How to take Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge is given as a slow infusion (or ‘drip’) into a vein (intravenously).

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge must only be given by a doctor or nurse.

If you use too much Sodium nitroprusside

As sodium nitroprusside is given to you under the supervision of your doctor, it is very unlikely that you will receive too much. However, if you experience any severe side effects after being given sodium nitroprusside, tell your doctor immediately, phone the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26 in Australia, or call 0800 764 766 in New Zealand) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital

You may need urgent medical attention.

Symptoms of a sodium nitroprusside overdose include the side effects listed below in the ‘Side Effects’ section but are usually of a more severe nature.

5. What should I know while using Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge?

Things you should do

Remind any doctor or pharmacist you visit that you are using sodium nitroprusside.

Driving or using machines

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Sodium nitroprusside affects you.

Sodium nitroprusside may cause dizziness and drowsiness in some people, which could affect the ability to drive or use machines.

Drinking alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.

Looking after your medicine

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge will be stored in the pharmacy or on the ward. The injection is kept in a cool dry place, protected from light, where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge.

Sodium nitroprusside may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

If you are over 65 years of age you may have an increased chance of getting side effects. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effects	What to do
nausea and vomiting sweating apprehension, restlessness headache muscle twitching, dizziness, drowsiness ‘pins and needles’ abdominal pain skin rash blockage in the bowel redness at the injection site.	Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

These are the more common side effects of sodium nitroprusside. Mostly these are mild and short-lived.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects

What to do

signs of cyanide toxicity. These include confusion, air hunger (trouble breathing), angina, seizures feinting due to very low blood pressure lack of oxygen (due to methemoglobinemia, a condition which reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen) signs of thiocyanate toxicity, such as ringing in the ears, constricted pupils and hyperreflexia (enhanced reflexes) changes in heart rate symptoms of hypothyroidism such as weight gain, lethargy, dryness of the skin, constipation signs of bleeding or bruising headache (raised intracranial pressure).

Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

These are serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge contains

Active ingredient (main ingredient)	Sodium Nitroprusside 50 mg /2 mL (25 mg /1 mL)
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients)	Water for Injection
Potential allergens	NA

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge looks like

Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge is available as 50 mg /2 mL (25mg /1 mL) injection, solution. This is supplied in a 2 mL amber coloured, rubber stoppered vial with blue Flip-Off Aluminium Seal, containing 2mL of solution.

Australian Registration number: AUST R 317084

Who distributes Sodium Nitroprusside Medsurge

Medsurge Healthcare Pty Ltd Unit
2, 6-7 Gilda Court,
Mulgrave Vic. 3170
Tel: 1300 788 261
Website: medsurge.com.au

This leaflet was prepared in June 2022