Chemet

Generic Name: Succimer
Class: Heavy Metal Antagonists
ATC Class: V03AB
VA Class: AD300
Chemical Name: Meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccnic acid
Molecular Formula: C₄H₆O₄S₂
CAS Number: 304-55-2

Introduction

Heavy metal antagonist; chelates lead.^{1 2 3 4}

Uses for Chemet

Lead Poisoning

Alternative for treatment of lead poisoning in children with blood lead concentrations >45 mcg/dL^{1 2} (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use).⁹

The AAP recommends succimer in the treatment of lead poisoning in children with blood lead concentrations of 45–70 mcg/dL who do not have symptoms of lead encephalopathy.⁵ Alternatively, parenteral therapy with edetate calcium disodium (calcium EDTA) alone is recommended.⁵

CDC and AAP do not recommend routine chelation therapy in pediatric patients with blood lead concentrations 25–45 mcg/dL.^{5 b} However, oral chelation therapy with succimer may be recommended in certain patients (e.g., blood lead concentrations of 35–44 mcg/dL, children <2 years of age, evidence of toxicity or symptoms).^{5 b}

The AAP currently states that patients with blood lead concentrations >70mcg/dL or with symptoms of lead encephalopathy require inpatient combined therapy with parenteral calcium EDTA and dimercaprol.^{4 5 8}

Children may need to be hospitalized during initiation of therapy to monitor for adverse effects, ensure patient compliance, and allow time for implementation of environmental lead abatement procedures.^{5 6}

Used in conjunction with a lead abatement program.^a

Notto be used prophylactically for the prevention of lead poisoning in a lead-containing environment.^{1 2}

Management of lead poisoning† in adults with blood lead concentrations 70–100 mcg/dL or mild symptoms.^b

Other Heavy Metal Poisoning

Has been used in the treatment of mercury poisoning† (designated an orphan drug by FDA for this use).^{1 2 9}

Has been used in the treatment of arsenic poisoning†.^{1 2 9}

Chemet Dosage and Administration

General

• 
  

  When source for lead poisoning has been identified, remove patient from that source.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Maintain adequate hydration to ensure renal excretion of chelating agents.^a

  
  

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer orally.^{1 2}

In patients who cannot swallow capsules, administer by opening capsule and sprinkling beads on a small amount of soft food or by putting beads in a spoon and following with fruit drink.^a

Dosage

Pediatric Patients

Lead Poisoning

Blood Lead Concentration 45–70 mcg/dL

Oral

Children >12 months of age: 10 mg/kg or 350 mg/m² every 8 hours for 5 days followed by 10 mg/kg or 350 mg/m² every 12 hours for 14 days.^{1 2 a b d} Full course of treatment is 19 days.^{1 2 a}

Intervals ≥2 weeks are recommended between courses of succimer therapy unless blood lead concentrations require more prompt drug therapy.^{1 2 a}

≥4 week interval is recommended when succimer is given subsequent to calcium EDTA therapy, with or without dimercaprol.^{1 2 a}

Adults

Lead Poisoning

Mild Symptoms or Blood Lead Concentration 70–100 mcg/dL

Oral

10 mg/kg or 350 mg/m² every 8 hours for 5 days followed by 10 mg/kg or 350 mg/m² every 12 hours for 14 days.^b Full course of treatment is 19 days.^b

Intervals ≥2 weeks are recommended between courses of succimer therapy unless blood lead concentrations require more prompt drug therapy.^{1 2}

≥4 week interval is recommended when succimer is given subsequent to calcium EDTA therapy, with or without dimercaprol.^{1 2}

Prescribing Limits

Pediatric Patients

Lead Poisoning

Oral

Children >12 months of age: Initially, maximum 10 mg/kg or 350 mg/m² every 8 hours.^{1 2}

Safety of uninterrupted dosing >3 weeks not established and not recommended.^a

Adults

Lead Poisoning

Oral

Safety of uninterrupted dosing >3 weeks not established and not recommended.^a

Special Populations

No special population dosage recommendations at this time.^a

Cautions for Chemet

Contraindications

• 
  

  Known hypersensitivity to succimer or any ingredient in the formulation.^a

  
  

Warnings/Precautions

Warnings

Lead Exposure

Not a substitute for the abatement of lead exposure.^a

Neutropenia

Risk of mild to moderate neutropenia, possibly resulting in infection.^a

Perform CBCs, including differential and platelet counts, prior to and weekly during therapy.^a Withhold therapy if ANC <1200/mm³; continue monitoring until ANC >1500/mm³ or recovery to patient’s baseline neutrophil count.^a Rechallenge only if the benefit of therapy outweighs the risk of neutropenia and only with careful monitoring.^a

Assess blood counts if infection is suspected.^a

Sensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity

Possible allergic or mucocutaneous reactions; may occur with readministration as well as during initial course.^a

Recurrent mucocutaneous vesicular eruptions affecting oral mucosa, external urethral meatus, and perianal area reported in one patient; reactions increased in severity with administration of each subsequent course and resolved between courses and upon discontinuance of therapy.^a

General Precautions

Monitoring

Clinical experience is limited; careful observation recommended during therapy.^a

Rebound Lead Toxicity

Risk of elevated blood lead concentrations and associated symptoms after discontinuance of drug due to redistribution of lead from bone stores to soft tissues and blood.^a

After completion of therapy, monitor blood lead concentrations at least once weekly until stable.^a Use the severity of lead intoxication (as measured by the initial blood lead concentration and the rate and degree of rebound of blood lead) as a guide for more frequent monitoring.^a

Elevated Serum Transaminases

Transient mild elevations of serum transaminases observed in 6–10% of patients.^a Obtain baseline and weekly serum transaminase levels during therapy.^a

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category C.^a

Lactation

Not known whether succimer is distributed into milk; however, breastfeeding is contraindicated in women receiving succimer due to maternal lead poisoning and risk of exposing nursing infant to the toxic heavy metal.^{a e}

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established in children <12 months of age.^a

Hepatic Impairment

Use with caution; assess hepatic function prior to and periodically during therapy.^a

Closely monitor patients with a history of liver disease.^a

Renal Impairment

Use with caution; assess renal function prior to and periodically during prolonged therapy.^a Adequately hydrate patients during therapy.^a Limited data suggests that succimer is dialyzable, but the lead chelates are not.^a

Common Adverse Effects

GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, loose stools, metallic taste), elevated serum transaminases, rash, neutropenia.^a

Interactions for Chemet

Chelating Agents

Concomitant administration with other chelating agents (i.e., edetate sodium dicalcium) is not recommended.^c

Laboratory Tests

May interfere with serum and urinary laboratory tests.^a May cause false positive results for ketones in urine using nitroprusside reagents (e.g., Ketostix) and falsely decreased measurements of serum uric acid and CPK.^a

Chemet Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Absorption is rapid and variable, with peak plasma concentrations obtained at 1–2 hours.^a

Elimination

Metabolism

Approximately 90% of absorbed dose is metabolized to mixed succimer-cysteine disulfides.^a

Elimination Route

Unabsorbed drug excreted principally in feces; absorbed drug excreted principally in the urine as metabolites.^a

Half-life

Approximately 2 days.^a

Stability

Storage

Oral

Capsules

15–25°C.^a Avoid excessive heat.^a

ActionsActions

• 
  

  Chelates heavy metals with a high specificity for lead.^{4 a}

  
  


• 
  

  Forms water soluble chelates with lead and increases urinary excretion of lead.^a

  
  


• 
  

  At recommended oral doses, decreases average blood lead concentrations by 72.5%.^a An average of 19 mg of lead was excreted in urine following administration of 30 mg/kg of succimer daily for 5 days.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Improves clinical symptoms (e.g., headache, colic) and biochemical indices of lead poisoning.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Does not affect urinary elimination of iron, calcium, or magnesium; however, may double zinc excretion.^a

  
  

Advice to Patients

• 
  

  Importance of identifying source of lead poisoning and then removing patient from that source.^{1 2} Importance of patient residing in an environment free of lead both during and after therapy.^{1 2}

  
  


• 
  

  For patients unable to swallow capsules, contents of capsules may be sprinkled on soft food just before administration or placed on a spoon for administration and taken with fruit juice.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of maintaining adequate fluid intake.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of informing clinicians if rash or infection occurs.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of completing full course of therapy.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of women informing clinicians if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of keeping succimer out of reach of children.^a

  
  


• 
  

  Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information.^a (See Cautions.)

  
  

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Succimer

Routes	Dosage Forms	Strengths	Brand Names	Manufacturer
Oral	Capsules	100 mg	Chemet	Schwarz Pharma

Disclaimer

This report on medications is for your information only, and is not considered individual patient advice. Because of the changing nature of drug information, please consult your physician or pharmacist about specific clinical use.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com represent that the information provided hereunder was formulated with a reasonable standard of care, and in conformity with professional standards in the field. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com make no representations or warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to such information and specifically disclaims all such warranties. Users are advised that decisions regarding drug therapy are complex medical decisions requiring the independent, informed decision of an appropriate health care professional, and the information is provided for informational purposes only. The entire monograph for a drug should be reviewed for a thorough understanding of the drug's actions, uses and side effects. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. and Drugs.com do not endorse or recommend the use of any drug. The information is not a substitute for medical care.

AHFS Drug Information. © Copyright, 1959-2011, Selected Revisions August 2009. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

† Use is not currently included in the labeling approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

References

1. McNeil Consumer Products Company. Chemet (succimer) capsules prescribing information. Fort Washington, PA; 1991 Feb.

2. McNeil Consumer Products Company. A summary of pharmacological and clinical data: Chemet (succimer). Fort Washington, PA: 1991.

3. McNeil, Fort Washington, PA: Personal communication.

4. US Department of Health and Human Services. Preventing lead poisoning in young children: a statement by the Centers for Disease Control October 1991. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control, Center for Environmental Health.

5. Committee on Drugs, American Academy of Pediatrics. Treatment guidelines for lead exposure in children. Pediatrics. 1995; 96:155-60. [IDIS 349805] [PubMed 7596706]

6. Committee on Environmental Health, American Academy of Pediatrics. Lead poisoning: from screening to primary prevention. Pediatrics. 1993; 92:176-83. [PubMed 8516071]

7. Mann KV, Travers JD. Succimer, an oral lead chelator. Clin Pharm. 1991; 10:914-22. [IDIS 288062] [PubMed 1663439]

8. Piomelli S, Rosen JF, Chisolm JJ Jr et al. Management of childhood lead poisoning. J Pediatr. 1984; 105:523-32. [IDIS 190925] [PubMed 6481529]

9. Food and Drug Administration. Orphan designations pursuant to Section 526 of the Federal Food and Cosmetic Act as amended by the Orphan Drug Act (P.L. 97-414), to June 28, 1996. Rockville, MD; 1996 Jul.

a. Schwarz Pharma Mfg. Chemet (succimer) capsules prescribing information. Seymour, IN; 2007 Apr.

b. Henretig FM. Lead. In: Flomenbaum NE, Goldfrank LR, Hoffman RS et al, eds. Goldfrank’s toxicologic emergencies. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2006:1308-24.

c. Howland MA. Succimer (2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid). In: Flomenbaum NE, Goldfrank LR, Hoffman RS et al, eds. Goldfrank’s toxicologic emergencies. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2006:1325-30

d. Gracia RC, Snodgrass WR. Lead toxicity and chelation therapy. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2007; 64:45-53. [PubMed 17189579]

e. Briggs GC, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005:1706-8.

More Chemet resources

• Chemet Side Effects (in more detail)
• Chemet Dosage
• Chemet Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Chemet Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Chemet - Add your own review/rating

• Chemet Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Chemet MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Chemet Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Chemet Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Succimer Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Chemet with other medications

• Lead Poisoning, Severe