Antivenin

Administration

• Type: Antivenom
• Dosage Forms: IM, IV
• Routes of Administration: IM/IV
• Common Trade Names: Antivenin

Adult Dosing

• Black widow spider bite
  • 2.5 mL IM/IV x1
    • Give skin or conjunctival test before use
    • May repeat dose x1
    • Prefer IV for severe cases

Pediatric Dosing

• Black widow spider bite
  • <12 yo
    • 2.5 mL IM/IV x1
      • Give skin or conjunctival test before use
      • May repeat dose x1
  • >12 yo
    • 2.5 mL IM/IV x1
      • Give skin or conjunctival test before use
      • May repeat dose x1
      • Prefer IV for severe cases

Special Populations

• Pregnancy Rating: C; Benefits outweight risks during pregnancy
• Lactation risk: L3; Safety unknown

Renal Dosing

• Adult: Not defined
• Pediatric: Not defined

Hepatic Dosing

• Adult: Not defined
• Pediatric: Not defined

Contraindications

• Allergy to class/drug
• Caution if hypersensitivity to horse serum
• Caution if asthma

Adverse Reactions

Serious

• Anaphylaxis
• Serum sickness

Common

• Injection site pain
• Hypersensitivity reaction
• Muscle cramps

Pharmacology

• Half-life: <15 days
• Metabolism: Unknown
• Excretion: Unknown

Mechanism of Action

• A equine serum globulin that binds to toxins

See Also

• Envenomation
• Black widow spider bite

References

Authors

Jonathan Warren