Consumer medicine information

Stonefish Antivenom


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 Stonefish Antivenom?

Stonefish Antivenom contains the active ingredient stonefish antivenom (equine). Stonefish Antivenom is given to people who become ill after being poisoned by a stonefish.

For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using Stonefish Antivenom? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before being given Stonefish 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 Stonefish Antivenom? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with Stonefish 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 Stonefish Antivenom given?

The dose is the same for both adults and children, and depends on the number of puncture sites from the spines of the stonefish:

  • for 1 – 2 punctures the dose is 1 vial (2,000 units)
  • for 3 – 4 punctures the dose is 2 vials (4,000 units)
  • for 5 or more punctures the dose is 3 vials (6,000 units).

The injection can be repeated as necessary.

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How is Stonefish Antivenom given? in the full CMI.

5. What should I know while being given Stonefish Antivenom?

Things you should do
  • Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects.

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while being given Stonefish Antivenom? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

Common side effects may include: allergic reactions, hives and rash.

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.

Stonefish Antivenom

Active ingredient: stonefish antivenom (equine)


Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Stonefish 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 Stonefish Antivenom.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using Stonefish Antivenom?
2. What should I know before being given Stonefish Antivenom?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How is Stonefish Antivenom given?
5. What should I know while being given Stonefish Antivenom?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using Stonefish Antivenom?

Stonefish Antivenom contains the active ingredient stonefish antivenom (equine). Stonefish Antivenom is an injection designed to help neutralise the effect of the poison (venom) of the stonefish.

Stonefish Antivenom is given to people who become ill after being poisoned by a stonefish.

The stonefish has sharp spines along its back. Standing on a stonefish causes these spines to pierce the skin on the bottom of the foot. Poison from the stonefish goes into the foot along the spines and causes intense pain, severe damage to the foot and can cause serious illness.

The antivenom is given to neutralise the poison, prevent dangerous illness and to reduce the pain and swelling.

Before antivenom is given, first aid measures must be used.

Not everyone who is stung needs the antivenom, but the pain and swelling is usually so severe in those people who stand on stonefish that antivenom is usually required to control these effects. In these people it is essential to use an appropriate amount of antivenom to counteract the effects of the poison.

2. What should I know before being given Stonefish Antivenom?

Warnings

Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.

Check with your doctor if you:

  • have allergies to:
    – any other medicines
    – any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
  • have any other medical conditions especially asthma, hayfever,
  • have ever received injections containing horse serum (snake bite and other antivenoms).
  • you 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 Stonefish Antivenom.

4. How is Stonefish Antivenom given?

How much is given

The dose is the same for both adults and children, and depends on the number of puncture sites from the spines of the stonefish:

  • for 1 – 2 punctures the dose is 1 vial (2,000 units)
  • for 3 – 4 punctures the dose is 2 vials (4,000 units)
  • for 5 or more punctures the dose is 3 vials (6,000 units).

The injection can be repeated as necessary.

Your doctor will take precautions to counteract any allergic reactions if they should happen.

When is Stonefish Antivenom given

Stonefish Antivenom should be only given to those people who become ill or have severe pain or swelling that does not respond to first aid measures after being stung by a stonefish.

How is Stonefish Antivenom given

Usually, this medicine is usually injected into a muscle, or in severe cases may be diluted and given via a vein.

Stonefish Antivenom does not contain any antimicrobial preservative. It should be used once and any residue discarded.

5. What should I know while being given Stonefish 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.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects What to do
  • 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.
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 Stonefish Antivenom contains

Active ingredient
(main ingredient)
2,000 units of Stonefish Antivenom (equine)
Other ingredients
(inactive ingredients)
  • phenol
  • sodium chloride
  • water for injections
Potential allergens This product also contains substances from horses’ blood.
The vial and all associated components do not contain latex.

What Stonefish Antivenom looks like

Stonefish Antivenom is a light straw coloured, slightly viscous transparent solution in a glass vial.

AUST R 74892.

Who distributes Stonefish Antivenom

Seqirus Pty Ltd
ABN 26 160 735 035
63 Poplar Road
Parkville 3052
Victoria
Australia

This leaflet was prepared in September 2021.

Published by MIMS December 2021