Porphyria Educational Services
PORPHYRIA EDUCATIONAL SERVICES BULLETIN
Vol. 1 No. 35 ~ August 29, 1999
Focus: Chlorine in Medicine: Pros and Cons of Chlorine for
those with Cutaneous Porphyria
Chlorine is the common bond among many of today's medicine.
Chlorine can be found in antibiotics, acetminophen, x-ray film,
anti-cancer drugs and blood bags or even glucose bags.
Chlorine is Number 17 on the Periodic Chemistry Table.
Chlorine is the substance that makes our tap water safe.
Chlorine is also as every housewife knows, what keeps our
"whites white" .
It is estimated today that about 85 percent of all
pharmaceuticals -- prescription and over-the-counter -- contain
or are manufactured using chlorine. Among these drugs which are
used frequently by porphyria patients are drugs for seizures,
allergies, depression, diabetes, headaches, hypertension, joint
inflammation, and nausea.
It must be pointed out that chlorine is a vital component
in two of the most important cancer drugs. In addition,
chlorinated compounds are essential to the development of potent
new drug therapies for many illnesses and diseases. Such
illness include hypertension which is found frequently among
porphyria patients. Of the nearly 400 new drugs approved for
therapeutic use in humans since 1984, more than 60 are
chlorinated compounds, and many others use chlorine's unique
chemical properties in their production.
Medical equipment used everyday in clinics and hospitals which
are frequented all too often by porphyria patients are found with
chlorine as a part of them. Chlorine is essential to a wide
variety of medical equipment. An estimated one-fourth of all
medical devices in hospitals contain chlorine, ranging from some
of the most commonly used to some of the most specialized and
advanced.
For women porphyric with cutaneous aspects you should be aware
that X-ray and mammography films are made with silver
chloride.
Chlorine-based plastics also are widely used in medical devices
and equipment. Of the 14 families of plastics made using chlorine,
the most common is polyvinyl chloride, a plastic known for being
light, easy to bend and shape, and inexpensive. Medical equipment
from plastics made through chlorine chemistry includes: IV and
blood bags, sterile tubing and packing, used commonly in
intervention therapy during porphyria attacks
Chlorine-based vinyl packaging also adds to the safety of
medicine. Vinyl is used to make the shrink bands commonly used on
over-the-counter products to alert consumers to evidence of
tampering. Many pharmaceuticals also are supplied in vinyl
packaging -- such as the "blister" packs that help
extend the shelf life of tablets and capsules and
make it easier for patients to take the proper dosage.