Uses of Disodium Edetate
Disodium edetate is a powerful drug that very few people know much about. It is one of those drugs that seems to have slipped through the cracks of the popular consciousness. This is perhaps because it does not treat diseases that are well known, or common enough to be major concerns. However, this drug is very important for treating serious heart problems and understanding its uses is important.
-
Hypercalcemic Crisis
-
Hypercalcemia means there is elevated calcium in the blood. When the body is functioning normally, calcium enters the body through food absorbed in the small intestines. It will be secreted through the kidney via urine. Normally, when there is an excess of calcium the bones of the body will absorb the excess. However, when there is an excess of calcium that the bones cannot absorb, the body will be overwhelmed and a hypercalcemic crisis can form. Symptoms of a hypercalcemic crisis include nausea, vomiting, constipation, polyuria, head, weakness in the joints and more. A hypercalcemic crisis can ultimately lead to a coma. Emedicine reports that, "Prognosis of hypercalcemia associated with malignancy is poor; the 1-year survival rate is 10 to 30 percent. In one study, 50 percent of patients died within 30 days of beginning treatment; 75 percent died within 3 months." Disodium edetate is given to patients suffering from hypercalcemic crisis in order to eliminate excess calcium. The calcium will adhere to the drug which is then ejected through the urine. It must be given slowly as an overdose can lead to a much too sharp drop in calcium levels.
Ventricular Arrhythmia
-
Arrhythmia is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. Ventricular arrhythmia is the most serious form of arrhythmia. The Mayo Clinic defines ventricular arrhythmia as "...a faster than normal heart rate..." with Mama's Health defining this faster than normal heart rate as "100 beats or more per minute." This condition is serious as it can lead to ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation means completely disorganized electrical activity in the heart. The electrical impulses in the heart will misfire so badly that the heart will twitch sporadically, making it impossible for the heart to pump blood. Disodium edetate will help slow the heart rate down before it reaches the level of ventricular fibrillation.
Digitalis Toxicity
-
Digitalis is a drug that has been in use for centuries. It strengthens the heart muscle, slows heart rate, and helps eliminate fluid from the body. The most common use of digitalis is congestive heart failure. It is also commonly used to treat arrhythmias. Digitalis toxicity occurs when too much digitalis is in the body. Symptoms of digitalis toxicity include confusion, irregular pulse, loss of appetite, palpitations rare vision problems such as blind spots, decreased consciousness, swelling, difficulty in breathing, and excessive nighttime urination. If digitalis toxicity is severe enough, it can also lead to arrhythmias and heart failure. Disodium edetate will absorb the digitalis and allow it to pass through the urine easily.
-
