Sodium chlorite

[viscera]

Has anyone explored the use of sodium chlorite (NaClO2) as a suicide method?

It has an LD50 similar to SN and is much more widely available as a disinfecting agent. It even kills in a similar fashion (methemoglobinemia). I found this clinical case, where a dose of 10g would have been more than sufficient to kill the subject had he not received prompt and intense medical care.

I'm only concerned about the potential discomfort before death compared to SN.

 

[R. A.]

You aren't concerned about renal failure? I haven't kept tabs but I don't recall that happening often with SN. In all three incidences of SC poisoning I can find, all led to acute kidney injury requiring dialysis for an extended period of time.

This is the full paper you've got just the abstract from. Someone could look into secondary to methemoglobinemia, if the physical processes are the same.
Actually I'm seeing this has only been mentioned four times total on the site, none of them very informative or pertaining to actual attempts (there's a search function you likely can't use yet).
I may investigate later if no one else does.

 

[viscera]

You make a good point. I saw that paper as well, and I agree that the consequences of failure seem rather brutal.

However, it should be noted that all the patients you mention are stated to have made a full recovery, even with a dose as high as 90g. No permanent sequelae.

Given the dramatically greater availability of SC over SN, I think many people may consider the risks to be worth it. That's why I'm surprised this method is not discussed more.

 

[closetoyou]

from what i can gather, the death seems kind of painful and not particularly fast

 

[viscera]

Recovery is indeed painful and arduous if you receive medical treatment. If you don't, it seems to me that you would just pass out and die from the lack of oxygen caused by methemoglobinemia. This would occur long before renal failure comes into play. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.