Succimer (Systemic)

Brand Names : Chemet, dimercaptosuccinic acid, DMSA

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For succimer, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to succimer. Also, tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Succimer has not been studied in pregnant women. However, some studies in animals have shown that succimer causes birth defects. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether succimer passes into breast milk. However, breast-feeding is not recommended while taking succimer.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children over the age of 1 year and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of succimer in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of succimer. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Dehydration - Before and while taking succimer, you must drink plenty of fluids and urinate regularly

• Kidney disease - The combination of lead and succimer may not be removed from the body as quickly as it normally would
• Liver disease - This condition may be made worse; your doctor should perform liver function tests regularly while you are taking succimer