Dimercaprol

Dimercaprol is a small molecule chelating agent developed by British biochemists at Oxford University during World War II as an antidote to the arsenic-based chemical weapon Lewisite. It is primarily used to treat acute poisoning by heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, gold, and lead (in combination with edetate calcium disodium). Dimercaprol acts by binding to heavy metals through its sulfhydryl groups, forming stable complexes that prevent or reverse the inhibition of sulfhydryl-containing enzymes. These metal-drug complexes are then excreted in the urine. The drug is administered via deep intramuscular injection due to poor oral absorption and can cause significant adverse effects including nephrotoxicity and hypertension. Dimercaprol has also been used off-label for Wilson's disease (copper overload) and has shown effectiveness against certain snake venoms *in vitro*[2][3][4][5].

Brand names

BAL In OilBritish antilewisite

Other names

2,3-dimercapto-1-propanoldimercaprol