What is Prussian blue?

Prussian blue was originally developed as a dye for use in paints and ink. It is used in medicine to help speed up the body’s elimination of certain metals or chemical elements. It works by binding to the metals in the digestive tract to keep the body from absorbing them.
Prussian blue is used to treat people who have been contaminated with radioactive cesium or thallium, or non-radioactive thallium.
Prussian blue may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Prussian blue?

Before you take Prussian blue, tell your doctor if you have a digestive disorder, chronic constipation, a blockage in your stomach or intestines, a heart rhythm disorder; or an electrolyte imbalance.
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Prussian blue is usually taken 3 times per day for at least 30 days.
Prussian blue may work best if you take it with food.
After you are treated with Prussian blue, your urine and stools will contain the radioactive materials that the medication has helped the body eliminate.
Avoid handling any clean-up of your stools or urine without wearing latex rubber gloves. If another person is handling your stools or urine, they should wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask to cover the nose and mouth.
Prussian blue may cause your stools to appear blue in color. This is a normal side effect of Prussian blue, and should not be cause for alarm.
Although Prussian blue helps the body quickly eliminate a radioactive element, this medication will not treat any symptoms of radiation exposure. You will be given other medications to treat complications of radiation exposure, such as bone marrow suppression or severe infection.
While taking Prussian blue, tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as severe constipation or stomach pain.
Prussian blue may bind with other medications and could possibly make them less effective. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Prussian blue?

Before you take Prussian blue, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• a digestive disorder
• chronic constipation
• a blockage in your stomach or intestines
• a heart rhythm disorder; or
• an electrolyte imbalance

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Prussian blue.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before you are treated with Prussian blue.
It is not known whether Prussian blue passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Exposure to radiation could cause a man to have low sperm counts up to several years later. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about how radiation may affect your fertility.

Prussian blue Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Prussian blue?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have a serious side effect such as severe constipation or stomach pain.
Less serious side effects may include mild constipation or minor stomach discomfort.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Prussian blue Interactions

What other drugs affect Prussian blue?

Prussian blue may bind with other medications and could possibly make them less effective.
Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Prussian blue?

Follow your doctor’s instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are taking Prussian blue.

Prussian blue Dosage

How should I take Prussian blue?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Prussian blue may work best if you take it with food.
Prussian blue is usually taken 3 times per day for at least 30 days. You may need to take several capsules at one time to get the correct dose.
If you are unable to swallow large number of capsules, you may open the capsules and sprinkle the medicine into a small amount of liquid or bland food to make swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.
Opening a Prussian blue capsule and mixing the medicine with liquid or food may cause a blue discoloration inside your mouth.
After you are treated with Prussian blue, your urine and stools will contain the radioactive materials that the medication has helped the body eliminate.
Use a toilet rather than a urinal and sit on the toilet while urinating. Flush the toilet 3 times with the lid down after use.
Always wash your hands after using the bathroom.
Avoid handling any clean-up of your stools or urine without wearing latex rubber gloves. If another person is handling your stools or urine, they should wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask to cover the nose and mouth.
When cleaning any spills of bodily fluid, use only disposable cleaning cloths that can be flushed down a toilet. Ask your doctor or health department how to dispose of any bodily fluid spills that cannot be flushed down a toilet.
Wash any soiled clothing separately from the laundry of other people in your home.
Prussian blue may cause your stools to appear blue in color. This is a normal side effect of Prussian blue, and should not be cause for alarm.
Although Prussian blue helps the body quickly eliminate a radioactive element, this medication will not treat any symptoms of radiation exposure. You will be given other medications to treat complications of radiation exposure, such as bone marrow suppression or severe infection.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, the radiation levels in your urine and stools will need to be checked often. This will help your doctor determine how long to treat you with Prussian blue. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Store Prussian blue capsules in the dark at room temperature.

What happens if I overdose on Prussian blue?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include severe constipation, thirst, drowsiness, confusion, increased urination, muscle pain or weakness, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What happens if I miss a dose of Prussian blue?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com