Letter 17072

Cyanide Antidote Kit [Nevada] 

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I have a gold plating system. I need to purchase a Cyanide Antidote Kit. Can anyone tell me where to find one?

Thanks Kitty H.

Kitty Howard
- Overton, NV. USA

The most important ingredient in the kit (the only one administerable without injection or professional help) is amyl nitrite capsules, a controlled dangerous substance (poppers). So you'll need a doctor's prescription for the kit, and you will unfortunately have a lot of trouble finding a compliant doctor. Your best bet would be to look for a doctor with a portable shingle, shallow roots, and a bad reputation :-)  That was a joke.

But your second problem is that your pharmacist may not have a clue about the kit (been there / done that).

Your third problem is you can't leave a controlled dangerous substance like this available. So you'll have to mount it behind tempered glass with one of those little hammers like on some old fashioned fire alarm stations. Hopefully this won't put you on every local junkie's monthly hit list :-)

The trick is to start at your regional poison control center--they have such a kit. Get a note from them for your doctor and instructions on how to order the kit (I think it's distributed by Eli Lilly); take the note to your doctor and he'll give you the prescription; give the prescription and the ordering info you got from the poison control center to your pharmacist. Make the effort because OSHA does not hesitate to fine an employer for failing to have a cyanide antidote kit.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

Just to reply to Mr. Ted Mooney PE, Pharmacists are aware of the Cyanide kit which needs to be safeguarded for actual life threatening situations that occur on a pretty normal basis or in case of a severe bio terrorist attack and just for your information Eli Lilly does not make it anymore and happens to be its a different company now.

Thank You

Yours Truly,

Bishoy Luka
- Syracuse, NY, USA

Thank you Dr.Luka. I am glad to hear that you personally are familiar with the cyanide antidote kit. But the fact is that many other pharmacists were not -- although presumably the situation has greatly improved post-911.

What you may not be aware of is that many plating shops use cyanide-bearing processes and they are required by law to have a cyanide antitdote kit in hand. "Safeguarding" it at a pharmacy does not help them comply with the law, because if one waited for cyanide exposure the victim would be dead before anything could be gotten from a pharmacy.

I have personally interviewed pharmacists to try to help client plating shops obtain cyanide antidote kits as required by OSHA, and was met with blank stares at more than one pharmacy. I learned from experience, as stated above, that the best starting point was to contact a poison control center.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

It's not easy to convince a doctor you need a kit but I have had pretty good luck getting prescriptions for cyanide antidote kits from doctors at occupational medical clinics and the clinic I am using also orders the kits for me. The kits are made by Taylor pharmaceuticals. I hope this helps

Neil Bell Red Sky Plating Albuquerque, NM, USA

This is a very serious matter to anyone handling cyanides. I can only speak from the UK's perspective, but it may be of use. Firstly the health and safety people here do not like non-qualified people sticking needles into other people and anyone doing so can be done for assault. Secondly the cyanide antidote kit contains both amyl nitrite and two solutions (A&B) that you mix and give to the patient to drink (if conscious) as an antidote. There is also the cobalt edetate in glucose and sodium thiosulphate solutions for injection. The orally administered antidote is of non-proven effectiveness, but (I suppose) is better than nothing. Injections can ONLY be given by qualified people (ie doctor, nurse, paramedic etc).

However, the latest Health and Safety guidelines in the UK say the ONLY thing to do is to administer oxygen from a medical oxygen gas cylinder; this can be done by anyone who has been trained in the requisite First Aid. Obviously seeking immediate medical help is paramount. Finally, there is some debate as to whether the whole antidote process is actually of any use after a real potentially fatal exposure; the treatment is so extreme that some people consider it to be as hazardous as the cyanide.

Trevor Crichton R&D practical scientist - UK

Thank you Neil.

Thank you Trevor. It is also illegal in the U.S. for an untrained person to stick anyone with a needle. The point of having the injectable antidotes on hand is so they can travel with the victim, immediately on hand at whatever point qualified medical attention is available.

But it's all a bit moot in the U.S. because the kits are required by law whether they are useful or not. Hopefully our OSHA will come 'round to the same opinion that you say is finding favor in the U.K., and plating shops will be relieved of the burden of having to buy and stock poppers and syringes.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

I just wanted to make everyone aware. Keystone Pharmaceuticals manufactures Cyanide Antidote Kits. I hope this helps. We do require a DEA certificate for purchases or you could have a physician place an order for you.

Jesse Suarez
Keystone Pharmaceuticals Inc - Laguna Hills, CA, USA

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