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Bismacine

Below is a FDA news release regarding the use of bismacine, also known as chromacine, an “alternative health” product that has been used to treat Lyme disease.   The bismacine (chromacine) contains high amounts of bismuth and is injected into the patient.  This can cause bismuth poisoning, which can lead to death or serious injury, including cardio-vascular collapse and kidney failure.  Cardio-vascular collapse is “the sudden loss of consciousness due to failure of the heart to pump enough blood to the brain (2)."  It is a life-threatening event.  Pritzker | Olsen, P.A. , a premier product liability law firm, is reprinting the FDA news release regarding bismacine (chromacine) and bismuth poisoning as a public service.

Lawyer Fred Pritzker has over 29 years of product liability lawsuit experience.  He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. To contact Pritzker | Olsen, P.A., call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail info@pritzkerlaw.com, or fill out our online consultation form.

FDA Warns Consumers and Health Care Providers Not to Use Bismacine, also known as Chromacine
July 21, 2006 – The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers and health care providers not to use a product called "bismacine," also known as chromacine.  The FDA is investigating one report of a death and several reports of injury related to the administration of bismacine.

Bismacine is an injectable product that has been used to treat Lyme disease.  But bismacine is not approved for anything, including Lyme disease.

Bismacine is not a pharmaceutical and is mixed individually by druggists.  It is prescribed or administered by doctors of "alternative health" or by people claiming to be medical doctors.

This product contains high amounts of bismuth, a heavy metal that is used in some medications taken by mouth to treat Helicobacter pylori (a bacteria that can cause stomach ulcers), but that is not approved in any form for use by injection.

On April 20, 2006, one person died as a result of treatment with bismacine, and on March 29, 2005, another person was hospitalized after receiving a bismacine treatment.  Other individuals who have used or been administered this product have also suffered serious adverse events.  Possible effects of bismuth poisoning include cardio-vascular collapse and kidney failure.

FDA is advising consumers and health care providers not to use bismacine.  Individuals who believe they have suffered adverse events from receiving bismacine may wish to seek medical attention. 
FDA is evaluating the product suppliers and will take additional action as appropriate.

Adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm, by phone (1-800-FDA-1088), or by returning the postage-paid FDA form 3500, which may be downloaded from www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm, by mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787 or fax (1-800-FDA-0178).

Sources:

  1. FDA news release regarding bismacine (chromacine), July 21, 2006, http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/
  2. Cardiovascular Collapse: Mechanisms of Individual Variability in Susceptibility to Syncope, Information on Levine Awards, http://www.ieemphd.com/current_awardsben.htm


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