Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary
The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
1. Why am I using Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
Box Jellyfish Antivenom contains the active ingredient box jellyfish antivenom (ovine). Box Jellyfish Antivenom is given to patients who become ill or who have extreme pain that does not respond to pain killer medications after being stung by a box jellyfish.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Box Jellyfish Antivenom? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Box Jellyfish Antivenom and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.
4. How is Box Jellyfish Antivenom given?
- The dose for both adults and children is one vial (20,000 units). The dose can be repeated as necessary.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use Box Jellyfish Antivenom? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
| Things you should do |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
Common side effects include allergic reactions, rash and hives.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
- sudden signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body, shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing
- rapid, shallow breathing, cold, clammy skin, a rapid, weak pulse, dizziness, weakness and fainting
- pinkish, itchy swellings on the skin, also called hives or nettle rash
- fever, swelling, skin rash, joint pains and swelling of the glands in the neck, armpit or groin, anytime up to two weeks after the injection.
For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.
Box Jellyfish Antivenom
Active ingredient(s): box jellyfish antivenom (ovine)
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Box Jellyfish Antivenom. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Box Jellyfish Antivenom.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
2. What should I know before being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is Box Jellyfish Antivenom given?
5. What should I know while being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
Box Jellyfish Antivenom contains the active ingredient box jellyfish antivenom (ovine). Box Jellyfish Antivenom is Box Jellyfish Antivenom is an injection designed to help neutralise the effect of the poison (venom) of the box jellyfish.
Box Jellyfish Antivenom is given to people who become ill after being stung by a box jellyfish. It is also used in those people who have severe pain from the stings which cannot be controlled with pain relieving medicines.
2. What should I know before being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
Warnings
Do not use Box Jellyfish Antivenom if:
- You do not have any ill effects or have extreme pain that does not respond to pain killer medications after being stung by a box jellyfish.
Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine although it can be an emergency, life-saving product and should not be withheld from anyone who needs it.
Check with your doctor if you:
- have any other medical conditions especially the following: asthma, hayfever
- take any medicines for any other condition.
- take any medicines for any other condition
- have allergies to any other medicines
- have allergies to any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes
- have ever received injection containing sheep serum.
- have ever received injection of Box Jellyfish Antivenom.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Box Jellyfish Antivenom.
4. How is Box Jellyfish Antivenom given?
How much is given
The dose for both adults and children is one vial (20,000 units). The dose can be repeated as necessary.
Your doctor will take precautions to counteract any allergic reactions if they should happen.
When is Box Jellyfish Antivenom given
- Box Jellyfish Antivenom should be only given to those people who become ill or have extreme pain that does not respond to pain killer medications after being stung by a box jellyfish.
How is Box Jellyfish Antivenom given
Usually, this medicine is diluted and given slowly as a drip into a vein. In situations where it is not possible to inject the antivenom into a vein, the contents of 3 vials may be injected into 3 different places in muscles on the body.
Box Jellyfish antivenom does not contain any antimicrobial preservative. It should be used once and any residue discarded.
5. What should I know while being given Box Jellyfish Antivenom?
When medicines are produced in animals and injected into you, it is always possible that viruses or other substances could be present in the medicine and cause an illness. These could be viruses or other infectious agents which may not yet have been discovered. In the past, there have been no reports of this ever having happened with this product.
If you have any queries about any aspect of this medicine, or questions regarding information in this leaflet, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.
6. Are there any side effects?
All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.
As the antivenom is made from sheep serum, side effects occur more commonly in those who have allergies, particularly if they have ever had injections before which were also prepared from sheep. Allergic reactions can be treated by your doctor.
See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.
Serious side effects
| Serious side effects | What to do |
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Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects. |
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.
7. Product details
This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.
What Box Jellyfish Antivenom contains
| Active ingredient (main ingredient) |
20,000 units of Box Jellyfish Antivenom (ovine) |
| Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) |
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| Potential allergens |
This product also contains substances from sheep blood. The vial and all associated components do not contain latex. |
What Box Jellyfish Antivenom looks like
Box Jellyfish Antivenom is a clear, straw coloured, viscous solution in a clear glass vial.
AUST R 74891.
Who distributes Box Jellyfish Antivenom
Seqirus Pty Ltd
ABN 26 160 735 035
63 Poplar Road
Parkville 3052
Victoria
Australia
This leaflet was prepared in June 2021.
Published by MIMS December 2021