Antivenin (Crotalidae) Polyvalent (Equine Origin)

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antivenin

Generic and brand names: antivenin (crotalidae) polyvalent, injection; crotalidae antivenin polyvalent, injection

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injections (shots) to treat poisonous snakebites. The kinds of snakebites include: rattlesnake, copperhead, and cottonmouth.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

This medicine is made from horse serum. Some people are very allergic to medicines made from horse serum. Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any vaccine, toxin, antitoxin, or antivenin
• an allergic reaction to any medicines
• asthma or hay fever
• problems with hives or a severe rash
• an allergic reaction to horses
• injections of horse serum in the past.

It is also helpful to tell the provider:

• the kind of snake that bit you and how big it was, if known
• how many times you were bitten
• what kind of first-aid treatment you have had
• how long between when you were bitten and when you arrived for treatment

Females of childbearing age: Tell the healthcare provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How do I use it?

This medicine works best when given within 4 to 6 hours after the snakebite. However, this medicine may be given as long as 24 hours after the bite. The injections are usually given in a hospital or clinic.

Your healthcare provider may test you to see if you are allergic to this medicine before you receive it. This test is a shot, just below the skin, of a small amount of diluted medicine. If you get a hive (raised areas on the skin with or without redness or rash) within 5 to 30 minutes, you have a positive reaction. The sooner a positive reaction occurs, the more sensitive you are to this medicine. Even if you have a negative reaction, you may develop an allergic reaction in the future.

What should I watch out for?

After you receive this medicine your healthcare provider will carefully watch you for any serious side effects. Follow your healthcare provider's advice.

A delayed reaction to this medicine may occur. Alert your healthcare provider if you have extreme tiredness, hives, fever, swollen lymph glands, sore joints, or nausea and vomiting.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, trouble breathing, swelling of the tongue and throat)

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Serum sickness (fever, rash, muscle weakness or pain, nausea, vomiting) 5 to 24 days after treatment.

Other: General pain and weakness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

No significant interactions have been reported.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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