Antivenom

Antivenom

Milking a snake for the production of antivenom.
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
Routes of administration	injection
ATC code	J06
Identifiers
Synonyms	antivenin, antivenene

Antivenom, also known as antivenin, venom antiserum and antivenom immunoglobulin, is a medication made from antibodies which is used to treat certain venomous bites and stings. They are only recommended if there is significant toxicity or a high risk of toxicity. The specific antivenom needed depends on the species involved. It is given by injection.

Side effects may be severe. They include serum sickness, shortness of breath, and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis. Antivenom is made by collecting venom from the relevant animal and injecting small amount of it into a domestic animal. The antibodies that form are then collected from the domestic animal's blood and purified. Versions are available for spider bites, snake bites, fish stings, and scorpion stings.

Antivenom was first developed in the late 1800s and came into common use in the 1950s. They are on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. Depending on the type the wholesale cost in the developing world is 9.00 to 118.80 USD per vial. In the United States the wholesale cost is as high as 2,300 USD per dose.

The principle of antivenom is based on that of vaccines, developed by Edward Jenner; however, instead of inducing immunity in the patient directly, it is induced in a host animal and the hyperimmunized serum is transfused into the patient.

Antivenoms can be classified into monovalent (when they are effective against a single species' venom) or polyvalent (when they are effective against a range of species, or several different species at the same time).