Antizol Basics

Indication for Use

Antizol is indicated as an antidote for ethylene glycol (such as antifreeze) or methanol poisoning, or for use in suspected ethylene glycol or methanol ingestion, either alone or in combination with hemodialysis.

Antizol® (fomepizole) Injection was approved for the treatment of real or suspected ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning in the United States and Canada in 1997 and 2000, respectively. Antizol was also approved in the U.S. and Canada for the treatment of actual or suspected methanol poisoning in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Fomepizole is also known as 4-methylpyrazole or simply 4-MP.

Antizol can be used in cases confirmed or suspected ingestion of ethylene glycol or methanol. Treatment can begin while a confirmative diagnosis is pending.

Click here to read important safety information about Antizol.

topFrequency of Use

Historically, antidotal treatment of toxic alcohol poisoning involved intoxicating doses of ethanol to compete with ethylene glycol or methanol for metabolism by alcohol dehydrogenase. The use of Antizol continues to increase, replacing the use of ethanol for the treatment of these poisonings. Antizol remains the only antidote approved for the treatment of ethylene glycol and methanol poisonings.

Adapted with permission from Litovitz et al., 2000 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med 2001; Litovitz et al., 2001 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med 2002; Watson et al., 2002 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med 2003; Watson et al., 2003 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med 2004; Watson et al., 2004 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. Am J Emerg Med 2005; and Lai et al., 2005 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poisoning and Exposure Database. Clinical Toxicology 2006.