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Breast Cancer Information

Hydrazine Sulfate

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What is it?

Hydrazine sulfate is a hazardous, colorless liquid with an ammonia-like odor. It’s used for industrial purposes and sometimes as medicine. It’s also unsafe.

Hydrazine sulfate might block certain chemical reactions in the body that can lead to malnutrition and muscle wasting.

People use hydrazine sulfate for cancer, weight loss in people with cancer, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Is it effective?

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Possibly Ineffective for …

  • Cancer. Taking hydrazine sulfate by mouth doesn’t seem to help treat various types of cancer.

Probably Ineffective for …

  • Lung cancer. Adding hydrazine sulfate to chemotherapy does not improve quality of life or survival in most people with non-small cell lung cancer.

There is interest in using hydrazine sulfate for a number of other purposes, but there isn’t enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Is there concern for the safety of its use?

When taken by mouth: Hydrazine sulfate is possibly unsafe. It has been linked to cases of liver damage, seizure, coma, and death.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Hydrazine sulfate is possibly unsafe for anyone, including those who are pregnant and breast-feeding. It has been linked to cases of liver damage, seizure, coma, and death.

Liver disease: Hydrazine sulfate might damage the liver. Taking hydrazine sulfate might make liver disease worse.

Surgery: Hydrazine sulfate might affect blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using hydrazine sulfate at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Are there any drug interactions?

Isoniazid

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Isoniazid can cause liver damage in some people. Hydrazine sulfate can also cause liver damage. Using both isoniazid and hydrazine sulfate might increase the risk of liver damage.

Medications for depression (MAOIs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Hydrazine sulfate contains a chemical that affects the body. This chemical might increase the side effects of some medications used for depression.

Some common MAOIs include phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Hydrazine sulfate might lower blood sugar levels. Taking hydrazine sulfate along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.

Are there any interactions with herbs and supplements?

Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Hydrazine sulfate might lower blood sugar. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might lower blood sugar too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include aloe, bitter melon, cassia cinnamon, chromium, and prickly pear cactus.

Are there any interactions with food?

Avoid using hydrazine sulfate with foods that contain a chemical called tyramine. Taking these products together can increase the risk of serious side effects. Tyramine-containing foods include avocado, banana, brewer’s yeast, broad beans, caviar, aged cheese, aged red wine, herring, liver, and pickled meats.

What dose is used?

Hydrazine sulfate has most commonly been used by adults along with chemotherapy. But it can be unsafe. Speak with a healthcare provider before using.

By what other names is the product known?

Segidrin, Sehydrin, Sulfate d’Hydrazine, Sulfato de Hidracina.

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