Sodium nitrite toxicity

Background

  • Sodium Nitrite is an inorganic compound composed of a sodium (Na) bonded to a nitrite (NO2) group[1]
    • High-purity sodium nitrite is a highly water-soluble, yellowish-white powder[1]
    • It has many uses across multiple industries, including as a food additive
    • Sodium nitrite also has some medical use as an antidote to certain toxidromes.
  • Recent toxicology and suicidology literature has described a trend of suicides by poisoning with sodium nitrite.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]
    • It may be a component of "Suicide kits" which can be ordered online.
  • Within the body, sodium nitrite is a powerful oxidizer, causing severe methemoglobinemia

Differential Diagnosis

Consider alternative causes of Methemoglobinemia

Diagnosis

  • Clinical diagnosis of Sodium nitrite toxicity should be made based on presence of Methemoglobinemia and contextual clues suggesting suicidality or possible exposure to sodium nitrite

Management

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrite
  2. ↑ Smith EM. Sodium nitrite suicide and social media influence. Nursing. 2023;53(12):44-47. doi:10.1097/01.NURSE.0000991568.99431.13
  3. ↑ Smith EM. Sodium nitrite suicide and social media influence. Nursing. 2023;53(12):44-47. doi:10.1097/01.NURSE.0000991568.99431.13
  4. ↑ Mazzini E, Feola A, Fracassi I, et al. Suicide by sodium nitrite ingestion: a systematic review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. Published online August 30, 2025. doi:10.1007/s12024-025-01066-9
  5. ↑ Bloom J, Sharpe A, Nulman S, et al. Comparing Confirmed Sodium Nitrite Suicide Deaths With Poison Center Surveillance Estimates. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(9):e2434192. Published 2024 Sep 3. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34192
  6. ↑ Khan H, Barber C, Azrael D. Suicide by sodium nitrite poisoning: Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2018-2020. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2024;54(2):310-316. doi:10.1111/sltb.13043
  7. ↑ Yoon JC, Kim SE. Suicide attempt using sodium nitrite ordered on the internet: Two case reports. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022;101(28):e29355. Published 2022 Jul 15. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000029355
  8. ↑ Loiseau M, Matheux A, Sabini S, et al. Suicide of an adolescent girl with sodium nitrite ordered on the internet. J Forensic Sci. 2023;68(6):2200-2204. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.15350
Obtenido de «https://www.wikem.org/w/index.php?title=Sodium_nitrite_toxicity&oldid=378352»