Havidote: Full Drug Profile

Havidote - General Information

A chelating agent (chelating agents) that sequesters a variety of polyvalent cations. It is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing and as a food additive. [PubChem]

Pharmacology of Havidote

Edetate calcium is a heavy metal chelating agent. The calcium in edetate calcium can be displaced by divalent or trivalent metals to form a stable water soluble complex that can be excreted in the urine. In theory, 1 g of edetate calcium can theoretically bind 620 mg of lead, but in reality only about 5 mg per gram is actually excreted into the urine in lead poisoned patients. In addition to chelating lead, edetate calcium also chelates and eliminates zinc from the body. Edetate calcium also binds cadmium, copper, iron and manganese, but to a much lesser extent than either lead or zinc. Edetate calcium is relatively ineffective for use in treating mercury, gold or arsenic poisoning.

Havidote for patients

Havidote Interactions

There is no known drug interference with standard clinical laboratory tests. Steroids enhance the renal toxicity of edetate calcium disodium in animals. ⁷ Edetate calcium disodium interferes with the action of zinc insulin preparations by chelating the zinc. ⁷

Havidote Contraindications

Edetate calcium disodium should not be given during periods of anuria, nor to patients with active renal disease or hepatitis.

Additional information about Havidote

Havidote Indication

For the reduction of blood levels and depot stores of lead in lead poisoning (acute and chronic) and lead encephalopathy, in both pediatric populations and adults.

Mechanism Of Action

The pharmacologic effects of edetate calcium disodium are due to the formation of chelates with divalent and trivalent metals. A stable chelate will form with any metal that has the ability to displace calcium from the molecule, a feature shared by lead, zinc, cadmium, manganese, iron and mercury. The amounts of manganese and iron metabolized are not significant. Copper is not mobilized and mercury is unavailable for chelation because it is too tightly bound to body ligands or it is stored in inaccessible body compartments. The excretion of calcium by the body is not increased following intravenous administration of edetate calcium disodium, but the excretion of zinc is considerably increased.

Generic Name

Edetic Acid

Synonyms

CaEDTA; Calcium Disodium Versenate; Calcium Disodium Edetate (JAN); Calcium disodium versenate (TN); Edetate calcium disodium (USP); EDT; Edetate Calcium; EDTA

Drug Category

Anticoagulants; Chelating Agents

Drug Type

Small Molecule; Approved

Other Brand Names containing Edetic Acid

Endrate; Cheladrate; Havidote; Titriplex; Versenate;

Absorption

Poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Well absorbed following intramuscular injection.

Toxicity (Overdose)

Inadvertent administration of 5 times the recommended dose, infused intravenously over a 24 hour period, to an asymptomatic 16 month old patient with a blood lead content of 56 mcg/dl did not cause any ill effects. Edetate calcium disodium can aggravate the symptoms of severe lead poisoning, therefore, most toxic effects (cerebral edema, renal tubular necrosis) appear to be associated with lead poisoning. Because of cerebral edema, a therapeutic dose may be lethal to an adult or a pediatric patient with lead encephalopathy. Higher dosage of edetate calcium disodium may produce a more severe zinc deficiency.

Biotransformation

Almost none of the compound is metabolized.

Half Life

The half life of edetate calcium disodium is 20 to 60 minutes.

Dosage Forms of Havidote

Injection, solution Intravenous drip

Chemical IUPAC Name

2-[2-(bis(carboxymethyl)amino)ethyl-(carboxymethyl)amino]acetic acid

Chemical Formula

C10H16N2O8

Edetic Acid on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDTA

Organisms Affected

Humans and other mammals