Antivenin, Pit Viper : Before Using - antivenin - crotalidae polyvalent, antvenin crotalid serum

Antivenin, Pit Viper - Systemic

Brand Names

antivenin - crotalidae polyvalent, antvenin crotalid serum Antivenin, Pit Viper *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Side Effects

Before Using This Medication

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For pit viper antivenin, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have ever been bitten by a poisonous snake before and if you have an unusual or allergy to pit viper antivenin, to horses, or to any products of horse origin, such as horse serum. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives. Before giving you this drug, your family doctor will do a skin test to see whether you are at risk of having a serious reaction to pit viper antivenin or to horse serum - contained in this drug.

Diet Make certain your health care professional knows if you are on any special diet, such as a low-sodium or low-sugar diet.

Pregnancy care

Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or pets. However, poisoning by pit vipers may result in miscarriages.

Breast-feeding problem

It is not known whether pit viper antivenin passes into the breast milk. However, pit viper antivenin has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Use for Children

Studies show that children tolerate pit viper antivenin better than do adults. However, children usually have more severe reactions to snakebite poisoning because of the greater amount of poison per body weight. Therefore, children may need larger doses of pit viper antivenin than do adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people. Although there is no special info comparing use of pit viper antivenin in the elderly with use in other age groups, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in elderly people than it does in adults people.