This is a decision you and your doctor will make. Tell your doctor if you have ever been bitten by a poisonous snake before and if you you have ever had an unusual or allergic reaction to North American coral snake antivenin, to horses, or to any products of horse origin, such as horse serum. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives. Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals. However, poisoning by coral snakes may result in miscarriages.
Studies show that children tolerate North American coral snake antivenin better than do adults.
However, children typically have more severe reactions to snakebite poisoning because of the greater amount of poison per body weight. Therefore, children may require larger doses of North American coral snake antivenin than do adults. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of North American coral snake antivenin in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults. The dose of North American coral snake antivenin will be different for different patients.