Clinical data | |
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Other names | antivenin, antivenene |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
Routes of administration | injection |
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ChemSpider |
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Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum, and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a specific treatment for envenomation. It is composed of antibodies and used to treat certain venomous bites and stings.[1] Antivenoms are recommended only if there is significant toxicity or a high risk of toxicity.[1] The specific antivenom needed depends on the species involved.[1] It is given by injection.[1]
Side effects may be severe.[1] They include serum sickness, shortness of breath, and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.[1] Antivenom is traditionally made by collecting venom from the relevant animal and injecting small amounts of it into a domestic animal.[2] The antibodies that form are then collected from the domestic animal's blood and purified.[2]
Versions are available for spider bites, snake bites, fish stings, and scorpion stings.[3] Due to the high cost of producing antibody-based antivenoms and their short shelf lives when not refrigerated, alternative methods of production of antivenoms are being actively explored.[4] One such different method of production involves production from bacteria.[5] Another approach is to develop targeted drugs (which, unlike antibodies, are usually synthetic and easier to manufacture at scale).[6]
Antivenom was first developed in the late 19th century and came into common use in the 1950s.[2][7] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[8]