Sodium nitrite-containing pharmaceutical compositions

A method for treating cyanide poisoning, comprising sequentially administering to a subject having or at risk of having cyanide poisoning:

• (1) a therapeutically effective amount of sodium nitrite which contains no greater than about 0.02% by weight of sodium carbonate, contains no greater than about 10 ppm of an anti-caking agent, has a loss on drying of no greater than about 0.25% by weight, wherein the water content is no greater than about 0.5% by weight, wherein the heavy metal content is no greater than about 10 ppm, contains no greater than about 0.4% by weight of sodium nitrate, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of insoluble matter, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of chloride, contains no greater than about 0.01% by weight of sulfate, contains no greater than about 0.001% by weight of iron, contains no greater than about 0.01% by weight of calcium, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of potassium, contains no greater than about 0.05 ppm of mercury, contains no greater than about 2 ppm of aluminum, contains no greater than about 3 ppm of arsenic, contains no greater than about 0.003% by weight of selenium, contains no greater than about 5000 ppm of ethanol, contains no greater than about 3000 ppm methanol, wherein the total non-volatile organic carbon content is no greater than about 10 ppm, and contains no greater than about 0.25 EU/mg of bacterial endotoxins;
• and (2) a therapeutically effective amount of sodium thiosulfate, wherein the sodium thiosulfate contains no greater than about 10 ppm of non-purgeable organic carbon, contains no greater than about 0.05 ppm of mercury, contains no greater than about 2 ppm of aluminum, contains no greater than about 0.003% by weight of selenium, contains no less than about 98% by weight and no greater than about 102% by weight of sodium thiosulfate on an anhydrous basis measured by ion chromatography, has a heavy metal content of no greater than about 10 ppm, contains no greater than about 200 ppm of chloride, contains no greater than about 0.001% by weight of sulfide, contains no greater than about 0.002% by weight of iron, contains no greater than about 0.01% by weight of calcium, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of potassium, contains no greater than about 0.1% by weight of sulfite, contains no greater than about 0.5% by weight of sulfate, contains no greater than about 3 ppm of arsenic, contains no greater than about 0.001% by weight of lead, has total aerobic count of microbial load of no greater than about 100 CFU/g, has total yeast and mold count of no greater than about 20 CFU/g, contains no greater than about 0.02 EU/mg of bacterial endotoxins, contains no greater than about 0.002% by weight of nitrogen compounds, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of insoluble matter, contains no greater than 0.01% by weight of residual anti-caking agent, and contains no greater than ICH Q3C (R3) limits of organic volatile impurities, wherein a 10% aqueous solution of the sodium thiosulfate at 25° C. is colorless and has a pH between about 6.0 and about 8.0.

A kit that includes:

• (1) a single unit-dosage form comprising sodium nitrite, wherein said sodium nitrite contains no greater than about 0.02% by weight of sodium carbonate, contains no greater than about 10 ppm of an anti-caking agent, has a loss on drying of no greater than about 0.25% by weight, wherein the water content is no greater than about 0.5% by weight, wherein the heavy metal content is no greater than about 10 ppm, contains no greater than about 0.4% by weight of sodium nitrate, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of insoluble matter, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of chloride, contains no greater than about 0.01% by weight of sulfate, contains no greater than about 0.001% by weight of iron, contains no greater than about 0.01% by weight of calcium, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of potassium, contains no greater than about 0.05 ppm of mercury, contains no greater than about 2 ppm of aluminum, contains no greater than about 3 ppm of arsenic, contains no greater than about 0.003% by weight of selenium, contains no greater than about 5000 ppm of ethanol, contains no greater than about 3000 ppm methanol, wherein the total non-volatile organic carbon content is no greater than about 10 ppm, and contains no greater than about 0.25 EU/mg of bacterial endotoxins;
• and (2) a single unit-dosage form comprising sodium thiosulfate, wherein said sodium thiosulfate contains no greater than about 10 ppm of non-purgeable organic carbon, contains no greater than about 0.05 ppm of mercury, contains no greater than about 2 ppm of aluminum, contains no greater than about 0.003% by weight of selenium, contains no less than about 98% by weight and no greater than about 102% by weight of sodium thiosulfate on an anhydrous basis measured by ion chromatography, has a heavy metal content of no greater than about 10 ppm, contains no greater than about 200 ppm of chloride, contains no greater than about 0.001% by weight of sulfide, contains no greater than about 0.002% by weight of iron, contains no greater than about 0.01% by weight of calcium, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of potassium, contains no greater than about 0.1% by weight of sulfite, contains no greater than about 0.5% by weight of sulfate, contains no greater than about 3 ppm of arsenic, contains no greater than about 0.001% by weight of lead, has total aerobic count of microbial load of no greater than about 100 CFU/g, has total yeast and mold count of no greater than about 20 CFU/g, contains no greater than about 0.02 EU/mg of bacterial endotoxins, contains no greater than about 0.002% by weight of nitrogen compounds, contains no greater than about 0.005% by weight of insoluble matter, contains no greater than 0.01% by weight of residual anti-caking agent, and contains no greater than ICH Q3C (R3) limits of organic volatile impurities.