Disodium Edetate 3 g plus Sodium Ascorbate 15 g (Biological Therapies)™
Active ingredients: Edetic acid + ascorbic acid
Pack: Disodium Edetate 3 g plus Sodium Ascorbate 15 g (Biological Therapies) injection, 100 mL vial
Consumer medicine information
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What this medicine is used for
1. Disodium Edetate is particularly effective in treating lead accumulation and lead poisoning. This is especially so where there is a concomitant hypercalcaemic problem (refer "Indications (2)"). However it must be noted that Disodium Edetate is equally effective with Calcium Disodium Edetate in removing heavy metals, even in the absence of hypercalcaemia. For patients with elevated serum calcium or hypermobility of their body pools of calcium where there may be transiently or prolonged raised serum calcium (see "Indications (2)"), the EDTA of choice for removing heavy metals may be Disodium Edetate. There are no recognised safe limits for lead intoxication. Lead poisoning may occur by ingestion or inhalation of lead dust or fumes. Poisoning is manifested by a metallic taste, anorexia, irritability, apathy, abdominal colic, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, headache, leg cramps, black stools, oliguria, stupor, convulsions, palsies and coma. Chronic lead poisoning causes variable involvement of the Central Nervous System, the blood forming organs and the gastrointestinal tract. Diagnostic laboratory tests include blood lead, hair analysis, urine coproporphyrin, urine delta-aminolevulinic acid, x-ray of abdomen and x-ray of long bones. Comparing the results of a 12-hour urine collection, pre-EDTA therapy, with the results of a 12-hour urine collection, during/post initial EDTA chelation, should confirm the early excretory surge of lead. As long as significant quantities of lead remain in the bone, any intercurrent illness which causes demineralisation can cause mobilisation of toxic quantities of lead into soft tissues and exacerbate plumbism. 2. Disodium Edetate may be used to temporarily reduce serum Calcium in patients with hypercalcaemia. Transient or prolonged hypercalcaemia may exceed the solubility product of calcium and result in tissue damage. Increased plasma calcium may give rise to renal lithiasis or acute pancreatitis. Calcium may also precipitate in the eyes (band keratopathy) and in soft tissues around the joints. There are many primary and secondary causes of transient and prolonged hypercalcaemia, which include the following: i) The injection of Calcium Disodium EDTA may itself give rise to a transient hypercalcaemia. ii) IMMOBILISATION, which may be associated with all sorts of conditions. For example, in Paget's Disease it is sometimes warranted to supplement with calcium unless there is chronic immobilisation (greater than 3 days immobilisation in bed may precipitate a hypercalcaemia), in which case patients should be placed on a calcium restricted diet. iii) Increased ingestion and uptake of calcium, as in dairy foods or calcium supplements such as calcium citrate. iv) Increased ingestion and uptake of vitamin D. v) Hypervitaminosis A. vi) Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Hyperthyroidism, Hyperparathyroidism, Malignancies, Multiple Myeloma, prolonged use of Heparin, Immunosuppressant Drugs, Acromegaly. 3. Disodium Edetate may be valuable in the management of severe digitalis arrhythmias, when a rapid response is required. 4. Disodium Edetate is useful in helping to eliminate some radioactive metals, including Calcium, Strontium, Radium, Cobalt and the very toxic Plutonium.
Source: ARTG
Storage conditions
- Shelf lifetime is 2 Years
- Store below 25 degrees Celsius
Source: ARTG
How to use this medicine
Non-composite pack
This medicine contains one component only.
Component
- Injection, concentrated
- Intravenous
- Clear and colourless to straw coloured solution.
Source: ARTG
Do I need a prescription?
These medicine packs are available from a pharmacist and requires a prescription. It is Schedule 4: Prescription Only Medicine.
- 1 X 100mL vial
Source: ARTG
Is this medicine subsidised?
This medicine is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Talk to your pharmacist about how much it will cost.
Source: PBS
Pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
For the active ingredient: Edetic acid + ascorbic acid
You should seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. They can help you balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.
Source: AHT
Reporting side effects
If you experience a side effect from this medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Or report it directly to the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration).
You can report side effects to your doctor, or directly at Report an adverse event or safety problem (Opens in new tab)
Source: ARTG
Data sources
- Australian Health Thesaurus (AHT) (Opens in new tab) – Last updated on 3 August 2026
- Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT) (Opens in new tab) – Last updated on 3 August 2026
- Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) (Opens in new tab) – Last updated on 3 August 2026
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) (Opens in new tab) – Last updated on 3 August 2026
- Medicines Information Pty Ltd (Opens in new tab) – Last updated on 4 March 2026
Disclaimer
Healthdirect medicines information is not intended for use in an emergency. If you are suffering an acute illness, overdose, or emergency condition, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
Reasonable care has been taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended to substitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be exclusively relied on to manage or diagnose a medical condition. Please refer to our terms and conditions (Opens in new tab).
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