What is EDTA?

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EDTA stands for edetate disodium, which serves as a chelating agent. The purpose of a chelating agent is to eliminate heavy metals from the blood stream. Additionally, EDTA is used to reduce the blood calcium levels when it becomes too high and regulates disturbances in the rhythm of the heart, which may be caused by a medication known as digitalis.

EDTA is commonly administered in a hospital or in an emergency situation. This medicine is given to a patient by injecting it into the vein, and the procedure may last for at least three hours. Furthermore, it is also commonly administered for 5 consecutive days, and then a 1 day off is given. The schedule for the administration of EDTA will be repeated until the normal blood calcium levels are reached.

Before receiving EDTA, it is important to inform the medical practitioner about any heart problems, heart rhythm diseases, hypokalemia or low potassium, brain tumor, diabetes, injuries in the head, or seizures in the past. If you have these health conditions, you may not be allowed to receive this medication or certain adjustments with the dosage may be implemented. Additionally, it is inadvisable for a person to receive this medication if he experiences difficulties in urinating and has arteriosclerosis, or the condition characterized by the hardening of arteries.

This medication is classified under the FDA pregnancy category C, which means that it may not be safe for the unborn child. With this, it is important to inform the physician if you are pregnant or is breastfeeding.

Once EDTA is administered to a patient, he will be monitored to check the effectiveness of the medicine and to make sure that the individual no longer experiences the effects of elevated calcium levels. When high blood calcium levels are reversed, the blood pressure of the patient will drop, causing him to feel light-headed and experience slowness of breathing. Some of the side effects of this medication include vomiting, numbness, tingling around the mouth, nausea, and vomiting.

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