See Supplemental Patient Information
- During administration of medicinal products prepared from animal plasma, risk of infectious diseases due to the transmission of infective agents cannot be excluded. This possibility should be considered by the physicians and conveyed to patients who may receive the product. However, there have been no recorded cases of transmission of viruses by this antivenom
- Rapid signs and symptoms of envenoming may become apparent in patients who have received effective first aid (firm bandaging and a splint) after removal of the bandage
- In patients bitten by funnel web spiders, removal of the bandage and splint may precipitate systemic effects of the venom, which typically include severe local pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, profuse sweating, salivation, lacrimation, and severe dyspnea. Mental confusion leading to coma, hypertension and pulmonary edema may occur; local and general fasciculation of muscles are commonly found
- Before administering antivenom, patients should be observed for signs of envenoming for at least 4 hrs after being bitten or after removing the pressure bandage because some patients bitten by funnel web spiders have symptoms that are so mild that antivenom is not necessary
- For rapid systemic effects of the venom, it may be necessary to give symptomatic treatment with drugs such as atropine and muscle relaxants until the antivenom becomes effective
- During antivenom therapy, a syringe loaded with 1:1000 adrenaline must be readily available due to the potential for severe allergic reactions including anaphylactic shock owing to the animal serum present in this product. Anaphylactoid reactions are commonly seen in patients who are atopic or who have previously received rabbit serum. Patients who are at increased risk of such reactions should be premedicated with adrenaline and intravenous antihistamine. Discontinue antivenom should anaphylaxis occur and inject 0.3 to 0.5 mL of 1:1000 adrenaline (0.01 mL/kg in children) subcutaneously and repeat after 2-3 minutes if necessary. In severe cases, administer IV antihistamine with IV corticosteroids to avoid late reactions. Restart antivenom only after considering relative problems of envenomation and anaphylaxis. It is advised to manage severe cases of systemic envenoming in an ICU
- Following the use of animal derived antivenoms, delayed serum sickness may occur with common manifestations including fever, cutaneous eruptions, arthralgia, lymphadenopathy, and albuminuria. Arthritis, nephritis, neuropathy, and vasculitis may occur less commonly. Such condition usually appears 8-13 days after antivenom use but can occur as soon as 12 hours after a second injection of a similar animal protein
Supplemental Patient Information
- Advise patients to promptly report their physician if they experience fever, swelling, skin rash, joint pains, swelling of the glands in the neck, armpit, or groin and sudden signs of allergy, anytime up to 2 wks after the injection
Pregnancy Category:NR
Breastfeeding: Safety unknown.
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antivenom funnel web spider (generic)
- PWDR for INJ: 125 U/vial (20 mL vial)
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