Section 1 - CHEMICAL PRODUCT AND COMPANY IDENTIFICATION

PRODUCT NAME

PAPAVERINE

NFPA

PRODUCT USE

The salt of an alkaloid obtained from opium or prepared synthetically. Papaverine relaxes
smooth muscle directly and is given to relieve ischaemia. Also a component of some cough
medicines although there is little clinical evidence to justify its use. May be given by
mouth, or by intra- arterial, intramuscular or intravenous routes. Calcium channel
blocking agent.

SYNONYMS

C20-H21-N-O4, C20-H21-N-O4, "isoquinoline, 1-[(3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6, 7-
dimethoxy-", "isoquinoline, 1-[(3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6, 7-dimethoxy-", "1-[(3, 4-
dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6, 7-dimethoxyisoquinoline", "1-[(3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6,
7-dimethoxyisoquinoline", "6, 7-dimethoxy-1-veratrylisoquinoline", "6, 7-dimethoxy-1-
veratrylisoquinoline", "isoquinoline, 6, 7-dimethoxy-1-veratryl-", "isoquinoline, 6, 7-
dimethoxy-1-veratryl-", papanerine, papaverina, "smooth muscle relaxant/ opium extract",
alkaloid

Section 2 - HAZARDS IDENTIFICATION

CANADIAN WHMIS SYMBOLS

EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

RISK

Harmful if swallowed.

POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS

SWALLOWED

  Accidental ingestion of the material may be harmful; animal experiments indicate that ingestion of less than 150 gram may be fatal or may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  Large doses of calcium channel blocking agents may produce nausea, weakness, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, a decrease in blood pressure along with reduced cardiac output; death may ensue.  The material may produce biochemical inhibition of the enzyme, phosphodiesterase. Several families of drug (including xanthines, papaverine, bipyridines, imidazolines, imidazolones, dihydropyridazinones, dihydroquinilones, pyrrolidinones) produce this effect. Synthetic inhibitors of these types, (PDEIs), may produce a wide range of adverse effects in a clinical setting. These include tachycardia (elevated pulse rate), decreased blood pressure (hypotension), central nervous system effects, altered colour perception (a blue-green haze persists), an increased sensitivity to light (photophobia), dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, dyspepsia (upset stomach), facial flushing, nasal congestion, urinary tract infection, skin rash, muscle aches in the pelvic area and, rarely, heart attack or even stroke. Other reported effects include hepatotoxicity, especially in long-term treatment, dose-dependent thrombocytopenia, cardiac arrhythmia, headache, fever, chest pain and hypersensitivity reactions.  .  Side-effects of papaverine use may include gastrointestinal disturbance, drowsiness, headache, flushing of the face, skin rash and vertigo. Jaundice and eosinophilia have also been reported and may be due to hypersensitivity.  

EYE

  Although the material is not thought to be an irritant, direct contact with the eye may cause transient discomfort characterized by tearing or conjunctival redness (as with windburn). Slight abrasive damage may also result. The material may produce foreign body irritation in certain individuals.  

SKIN

  Skin contact with the material may damage the health of the individual; systemic effects may result following absorption.  The material is not thought to be a skin irritant (as classified using animal models). Abrasive damage however, may result from prolonged exposures. Good hygiene practice requires that exposure be kept to a minimum and that suitable gloves be used in an occupational setting.  Entry into the blood-stream, through, for example, cuts, abrasions or lesions, may produce systemic injury with harmful effects. Examine the skin prior to the use of the material and ensure that any external damage is suitably protected.  

INHALED

  Inhalation of dusts, generated by the material during the course of normal handling, may produce serious damage to the health of the individual.  The material is not thought to produce respiratory irritation (as classified using animal models). Nevertheless inhalation of dusts, or fume, especially for prolonged periods, may produce respiratory discomfort and occasionally, distress.  Limited evidence exists that the substance may cause irreversible but non-lethal mutagenic effects following a single exposure.  

CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS

  Long term exposure to high dust concentrations may cause changes in lung function i.e. pneumoconiosis; caused by particles less than 0.5 micron penetrating and remaining in the lung. Prime symptom is breathlessness; lung shadows show on X-ray.  Limited evidence suggests that repeated or long-term occupational exposure may produce cumulative health effects involving organs or biochemical systems.  Exposure to the material may result in a possible risk of irreversible effects. The material may produce mutagenic effects in man. This concern is raised, generally, on the basis ofappropriate studies with similar materials using mammalian somatic cells in vivo. Such findings are often supported by positive results from in vitro mutagenicity studies.  Exposure to small quantities may induce hypersensitivity reactions characterized by acute bronchospasm, hives (urticaria), deep dermal wheals (angioneurotic edema), running nose (rhinitis) and blurred vision . Anaphylactic shock and skin rash (non-thrombocytopenic purpura) may occur. An individual may be predisposed to such anti-body mediated reaction if other chemical agents have caused prior sensitization (cross-sensitivity).