antivenom prices

[Reticsrule]

does anyone know a site that lists the prices for each of the different antivenoms? i have heard that they are really expensive and i would like to see what the prices are for the species im interested in keeping later on in life.

[mambacatcher127]

im no expert, but you might go to yahoo, then go to health and medical care, that type of stuff, of log onto a medical site, if you cant find out by computer, check your local vet, and see if they have any prices.

[Reticsrule]

thanks ill try that but im hoping that there is a site that has a list of them. it would be a lot easier than looking up each one individually.

[mambacatcher127]

what kind of reptile are you looking for antivenom

[Reticsrule]

im not looking for any particular kind im just looking for a site that lists the costs of the different types.

[ChurleR]

CroFab used to be about $1000 per vial. Not sure if it's gone up or down since that was published a couple of years ago, however.

CroFab is used for most of the North American pitvipers effectively. I think it's least effective on the Pacific Rattlesnake, but don't quote me on that.

[Reticsrule]

thanks for the info:) im still looking for a site that lists them all but i cant seem to come across one.

[psilocybe]

It varies...Crofab is ridiculously expensive (what American pharmaceutical isn't though?), the Mexican polyvalent (has shown to be effective against N.A. pitviper bites as well as the mexican species) is dirt cheap (somewhere between 35-50 bucks a vial). Importing it is the real pain in the rear.

Australian antivenin is pretty price, up to $1000 or more per vial depending on what it covers. SAVP polyvalent AV (used to treat bites from Bitis, Dendroaspis, African Naja, etc.) is around $60 per vial last I heard.

It really depends what country you are purchasing the AV from, what species it covers, and it's mono or polyvalent.

[Reticsrule]

thanks that really helps:) does anyone know the price of AV for asian naja (monocled, spectacled, asian spitters, etc.)?

also, exactly how expensive/difficult is it to import these AVs from other countries? im just asking because in most cases i think it is worth the pain to import it in the event of a bite. thanks:)

[cantil]

You mayalso want to get in touch with you local doctor or local emergency room physician as well since they may be able to help you with the bureaucracy and paperwork inevitably necessary to import or purchase antivenin. Bear in mind that even if you do get antivenin (last I heard) it was still classified as an 'experimental' drug by the FDA and as such was not approved for general use without some form of waiver. If you show up at a hospital, in a delirious state from a bite, with several vials of a drug which the doctor has never seen before and may not be competent to administer, your going to have a heck of a time getting them to give you the antivenin. You must make sure that you've either discussed with the doctors at the local hospital the eventuality that you might be showing up there some day with an envenomation or have protocals and documentation written out before hand indicating your wishes to have your antivenin administered and that you accept responsibility for the possible outcomes of doing so. While no doctor wants to watch you die for lack of having given you the drugs you need, they also don't want a lawsuit from your relatives if the antivenin kills you.

Just my two cents.

Cheers.

[psilocybe]

You mayalso want to get in touch with you local doctor or local emergency room physician as well since they may be able to help you with the bureaucracy and paperwork inevitably necessary to import or purchase antivenin. Bear in mind that even if you do get antivenin (last I heard) it was still classified as an 'experimental' drug by the FDA and as such was not approved for general use without some form of waiver. If you show up at a hospital, in a delirious state from a bite, with several vials of a drug which the doctor has never seen before and may not be competent to administer, your going to have a heck of a time getting them to give you the antivenin. You must make sure that you've either discussed with the doctors at the local hospital the eventuality that you might be showing up there some day with an envenomation or have protocals and documentation written out before hand indicating your wishes to have your antivenin administered and that you accept responsibility for the possible outcomes of doing so. While no doctor wants to watch you die for lack of having given you the drugs you need, they also don't want a lawsuit from your relatives if the antivenin kills you.



Just my two cents.

Cheers.


This is exactly why a good bite protocol book is mandatory, and something you should take to the hospital with you. The protocol book should include bite protocols, information on the snake that bit you, any notes you or anyone else was able to take down after the bite (size of snake, species, sex, bite type (feeding/defensive), etc.) These factors may be important when it comes to treating the bite. In addition you should have contact information for your advocates (i.e. people who will tell the doctor he better give you the AV because it's the ONLY thing that can help you).

[Reticsrule]

thanks for the advice guys. as you know i wont be getting into hots for at least five years or so but probably longer(if theyre still legal anywhere that is) but i think i should start learning the basics now. keep the advice coming if you have anymore.