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 Polyvalent Snake Antivenom?
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom contains the active ingredients brown snake antivenom, tiger snake antivenom, death adder antivenom, taipan antivenom and black snake antivenom. Polyvalent Snake Antivenom is given to people who have become ill from venom after being bitten by an unidentified snake in Papua New Guinea or in all Australian states except Victoria and Tasmania.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Polyvalent Snake Antivenom? in the full CMI.
2. What should I know before being given Polyvalent Snake 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 Polyvalent Snake Antivenom? in the full CMI.
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
Some medicines may interfere with Polyvalent Snake 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 Polyvalent Snake Antivenom given?
- Your doctor will prescribe Polyvalent Snake Antivenom if you suffer from the effects of venom from an unidentified snake bite in Papua New Guinea or in all Australian states except Victoria and Tasmania.
- The dose for both adults and children is one vial (40,000 units). The dose can be repeated as necessary.
More instructions can be found in Section 4. How is Polyvalent Snake Antivenom given? in the full CMI.
5. What should I know while being given Polyvalent Snake Antivenom?
Things you should do |
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For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while being given Polyvalent Snake Antivenom? in the full CMI.
6. Are there any side effects?
Common side effects may include: allergic reactions, chills, rash, hives, headache and fever.
If you experience the following serious side effects, tell your doctor immediately:
- 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
- chest pain
- high temperature.
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.
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom (Australia – Papua New Guinea)
Active ingredient(s): brown snake antivenom, tiger snake antivenom, death adder antivenom, taipan antivenom, black snake antivenom
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
This leaflet provides important information about using Polyvalent Snake 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 Polyvalent Snake Antivenom.
Where to find information in this leaflet:
1. Why am I using Polyvalent Snake Antivenom?
2. What should I know before being given Polyvalent Snake Antivenom?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is Polyvalent Snake Antivenom given?
5. What should I know while being given Polyvalent Snake Antivenom?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details
1. Why am I using Polyvalent Snake Antivenom?
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom contains the active ingredients brown snake antivenom, tiger snake antivenom, death adder antivenom, taipan antivenom and black snake antivenom. Polyvalent Snake Antivenom is a snake antivenom. Antivenoms are designed to help neutralise the effects of the poison (venom) after a snake bite.
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom is used to treat people who become ill after being bitten by an unidentified snake in Papua New Guinea or in all Australian states except Victoria and Tasmania.
2. What should I know before being given Polyvalent Snake Antivenom?
Warnings
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom should not be given if:
You do not have any ill effects from the snake bite although it can be an emergency life-saving product and should not be withheld from anyone who needs it. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
Check with your doctor if you:
- have allergies to any other medicines or any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes
- have any other medical conditions especially the following: asthma, hayfever
- take any medicines for any other condition
- received injections containing horse serum (snake bite and other antivenoms)
- had an anti-tetanus injection before 1974.
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 Polyvalent Snake Antivenom.
4. How is Polyvalent Snake Antivenom given?
How much is given
The dose for both adults and children is one vial (40,000 units). The dose can be repeated as necessary.
Your doctor will take precautions to counteract any allergic reactions if they should happen.
When is Polyvalent Snake Antivenom given
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom should only be given when you become ill after being bitten by an unidentified snake in Papua New Guinea or in all Australian states except Victoria and Tasmania.
How is Polyvalent Snake Antivenom given
This medicine is diluted and given slowly as a drip into a vein.
Once diluted Polyvalent Snake Antivenom should be used immediately. Diluted antivenom should not be stored.
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom does not contain any antimicrobial preservative. It should be used once, and any residue discarded.
5. What should I know while being given Polyvalent Snake 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 injection is made from horse serum, side effects occur more commonly in those who have allergies, particularly if they have ever had injections before which were also prepared from horses. 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.
Less serious side effects
Less serious side effects | What to do |
These side effects are usually mild. |
Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you. |
Serious side effects
Serious side effects | What to do |
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. |
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. |
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 Polyvalent Snake Antivenom contains
Active ingredient (main ingredient) |
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Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) |
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Potential allergens | This product also contains substances from horses’ blood. Polyvalent Snake Antivenom and its packaging components do not contain natural rubber latex. |
What Polyvalent Snake Antivenom looks like
Polyvalent Snake Antivenom is a light straw coloured, slightly viscous, transparent solution in a glass vial.
AUST R 74899
Who distributes Polyvalent Snake Antivenom
Seqirus Pty Ltd,
ABN 26 160 735 035
63 Poplar Road
Parkville 3052
Victoria
Australia
This leaflet was prepared in July 2021.
Published by MIMS December 2021