Hydroxocobalamin
Cyanokit
Cyanide antidote / NO scavenger
Vitamin B12a precursor; cyanide binds to cobalt center of hydroxocobalamin → forms cyanocobalamin (B12) → renal excretion. Also scavenges nitric oxide → vasoconstriction.
Indications
- •Cyanide toxicity (smoke inhalation from house fires, sodium nitroprusside infusion >2 mcg/kg/min, industrial exposure)
- •Vasoplegic syndrome post-cardiopulmonary bypass (off-label, growing evidence)
- •Distributive shock refractory to vasopressors (off-label)
Dosing
| Context | Adult | Pediatric |
|---|---|---|
| Cyanide toxicity | 5g IV over 15 min; may repeat 5g once if symptoms persist (max 10g total) | — |
| Vasoplegia (off-label) | 5g IV over 15 min; single dose typically sufficient | — |
| Pediatric cyanide | 70 mg/kg IV over 15 min | — |
Pharmacokinetics
Onset minutes; cyanocobalamin formed within minutes; half-life ~26-31 hr; renal excretion.
Hemodynamic effects
Modest ↑ MAP via NO scavenging — clinically meaningful in vasoplegic states. Less hypotensive than sodium thiosulfate.
Side effects
- !Red/orange discoloration of skin, urine, plasma (lasts 5-35 days)
- !Lab interference (chromogenic assays affected — creatinine, AST, ALT, magnesium falsely altered)
- !Pulse oximetry artifact (falsely low SpO2)
- !Allergic reaction / anaphylaxis (rare)
- !Acute renal injury (oxalate crystals)
- !Hypertension (transient, mild)
Contraindications
- ×Hypersensitivity
Clinical pearls
- ★FIRE VICTIMS with smoke inhalation + altered mental status + lactate >10 mmol/L → empirically give Cyanokit even before lab confirmation. Cyanide tox often coexists with CO toxicity (treat both: 100% O2 ± hyperbaric for CO; hydroxocobalamin for cyanide).
- ★ICE: Cyanokit 5g vial reconstitutes in 200 mL NS → infuse over 15 min via dedicated line.
- ★VASOPLEGIA: when methylene blue contraindicated (G6PD, serotonergic drugs) or has failed, hydroxocobalamin is the next move. Compounded with epinephrine + NE + vasopressin in refractory cases.
- ★Lab artifact for 24-48 hours — communicate with lab + ICU team.
📊 Related teaching panels
Standalone diagrams matched to this topic.
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