Additional Information

No laboratory test is available to assess cyanide toxicity in a patient who is on nitroprusside therapy; this test should not be ordered when the patient is on nitroprusside. However, thiocynate toxicity may occur with long-term nitroprusside use (longer then seven to fourteen days with normal renal function and three to six days with renal impairment at greater than 2 µg/kg/min infusion rates). Thiocyanate levels may be monitored on an every other day basis to assess potential thiocyanate toxicity and to indicate possible adjustments in dosage.