Source: Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (GB) Revision Year: 2014 Publisher: Amdipharm UK Limited, Capital House, 85 King William Street, London EC4N 7BL, United Kingdom
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antidote
ATC code: V03AB
Dimercaprol is a chelating agent used in the treatment of acute poisoning by heavy metals.
The sulphydryl groups of dimercaprol compete with endogenous sulphydryl groups on proteins such as enzymes to combine with these metals; chelation by dimercaprol therefore prevents or reverses any inhibition of the sulphydryl enzymes by the metal and the dimercaprol-metal complex formed is readily excreted by the kidney.
After intramuscular injection, maximum plasma concentrations of dimercaprol may be attained within one hour.
Dimercaprol is widely distributed to all body tissues, with the highest concentrations found in the kidneys and liver.
Dimercaprol is rapidly metabolised and the metabolites and dimercaprol-metal chelates are excreted in the urine and bile.
Elimination is essentially complete within four hours of a single dose.
None stated.
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