Indications & Uses
Antivenom is indicated for:
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Snake venom antiserum remains, at present, the only specific antidote for snake envenomation, and giving an adequate dose promptly is of paramount importance for neutralizing unbound circulating venom components and achieving an early response to treatment. Any delay in administration may increase the dose required and reduce its effectiveness. Because clinical signs can vary due to many factors such as the type and size of the snake, the time of reporting after the bite, the amount of venom injected, and seasonal and regional variation in venom composition, no precise dosage can be recommended. However, taking into account the average quantity of venom injected at the time of a bite and the degree of envenomation, it is recommended that an initial dose of 5 to 10 vials of Snake venom antiserum be given by slow intravenous infusion, either undiluted at a speed of not more than 2 ml per minute or diluted with normal or glucose saline at a rate of 5 to 10 ml per kg body weight over one hour. Children should receive the same dose as adults. Constant monitoring of vital signs at frequent intervals during the first hour is recommended. Whether further dosing is needed depends on the extent of reversal of coagulopathy, confirmed after 6 hours of antiserum administration by WBCT in haemotoxic bites, or on whether symptoms persist or worsen, or respiratory failure continues, in neurotoxic bites after 1 hour of antiserum administration. If the blood remains incoagulable or there are no signs of reversal of paralysis, a further dose of 5 to 10 vials of antiserum should be given, by the slow intravenous route only. Administration by the intramuscular route or locally around the bite wound is not recommended. In most cases of both neurotoxic and haemotoxic bites, a total dose of 15 to 20 vials is adequate, unless a proven recurrence of envenomation is established, in which case further doses can be given according to the patient's clinical condition. The hypersensitivity skin test has no predictive value and should therefore not be used.
Side Effects
Antivenom being derived from equines is heterologous to human can give either early or late reaction. Adrenaline should be always kept handy, before starting the dose of Antivenom. Reduction in adverse reactions has been reported by use of adequate dilution of Antivenom with saline and controlling rate of infusion.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Careful precautions should be taken with anyone known to be hypersensitive to the product's constituents. Some doctors prefer to premedicate patients with Inj. Adrenaline 0.25 ml to reduce the chance of adverse reactions. In haemotoxic bites, IM injections should be avoided until the coagulopathy is corrected, so as to prevent haematoma formation and oozing of blood. If a patient has a tourniquet in place, it should be released slowly, and only after Antivenom administration has begun.
Contraindications
No known contraindications have been identified for the use of this antivenom.