Black Widow Spider Antivenin Brand Name– Antivenin (Black Widow Spider)
What is Black Widow Spider Antivenin
Black widow spider antivenin (Latrodectus mactans antivenin) is used to neutralize the toxic effects of the black widow spider bite.
The antivenin is derived from the serum of healthy horses immunized against venom of black widow spiders.
The venom of a black widow spider is a neurotoxin that causes systemic symptoms with little effect at the bite site and no local necrosis.
Most cases of black widow bites do not require hospitalization and symptoms increase in severity from several hours to a day, and then slowly become less severe, subsiding in about 2 days.
Treatment in otherwise healthy patients is usually symptomatic with analgesics, muscle relaxants, and intravenous calcium gluconate.
Due to the possibility of hypersensitivity reactions (see Adverse Reactions), antivenin use may be deferred in otherwise healthy patients between the ages of 16 and 60. Patients treated with the antivenin recover rapidly (within 1—2 days); however, non-specific symptoms (e.g., weakness, transient muscle spasm, tingling) may persist for weeks to months.
The Black widow spider antivenin, Antivenin Latrodectus mactans, Equine (Merck), was approved by the FDA in 1936. Another antivenom, Analatro (Antivenin Latrodectus (Black Widow) Equine Immune F(ab)2, Bioclon Institute), is under clinical investigation in phase III clinical trials; in the United States, clinical trial information for the new antivenin can be obtained from the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center in Denver Colorado.
Indications
- black widow spider bites
For the management of black widow spider bites (Latrodectus mactans) or other Latrodectus species bites
Side Effects
- anaphylactic shock
- anaphylactoid reactions
- arthralgia
- bronchospasm
- dyspnea
- fever
- lymphadenopathy
- muscle cramps
- serum sickness
- urticaria
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- breast-feeding
- children
- equine protein hypersensitivity
- geriatric
- infants
- neonates
- pregnancy
- requires a specialized care setting
Interactions
There are no drug interactions associated with Black Widow Spider Antivenin products.
