dimercaprol

A chelating agent, developed as an antidote for lewisite and other arsenical poisons. It acts by competing for the metal with the essential —SH groups in the pyruvate oxidase system of the cells and forms, with arsenic, a stable, relatively nontoxic cyclic compound, the metal having a greater affinity for it than for the —SH groups of the cell proteins; also used as an antidote for antimony, bismuth, chromium, mercury, gold, and nickel. SYN: antilewisite, British anti- Lewisite.

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di·mer·cap·rol .dī-(.)mər-'kap-.rȯl, -.rōl n a colorless viscous oily compound C₃H₈OS₂ with an offensive odor developed as an antidote to lewisite and used in treating arsenic, mercury, and gold poisoning called also BAL, British anti-lewisite

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n.

a drug that combines with metals in the body and is used to treat poisoning by antimony, arsenic, bismuth, gold, mercury, and thallium. It is administered by injection and commonly causes nausea, vomiting, and watering of the eyes.

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di·mer·cap·rol (di″mər-kapґrol) [USP] a metal complexing agent, used as an antidote to poisoning by arsenic, gold, mercury, and lead; administered intramuscularly. Called also British antilewisite (BAL).