Antivenin (Latrodectus mactans) and Gammagard

• Generic Name: antivenin (black widow spider)
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

Black widow spider antivenin belongs to a group of medicines known as immunizing agents. It is used to treat patients with serious symptoms caused by the bites of the black widow spider.

Antivenin (latrodectus mactans) is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of a doctor.

• Generic Name: immune globulin intravenous and subcutaneous
• Dosage Forms: injection, solution
• Other Brand Names: Gammagard, Gammaked, Gamunex-C, Gammagard Liquid

Gammagard (immune globulin) is a sterilized solution made from human plasma. It contains the antibodies to help your body protect itself against infection from various diseases.

Gammagard is used to treat primary immunodeficiency diseases (PI) in adults and children two years of age or older.

Gammagard is also used as maintenance therapy to improve muscle strength and disability in adult patients with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN. MMN is a rare disease that causes muscle weakness that worsens over time. It affects the strength of the lower parts of arms and hands more than the legs, usually without affecting the touch sensation.

There are many forms of PI. The most common types of PI result in an inability to make a very important type of protein called antibodies, which help the body fight off infections from bacteria or viruses.

Gammagard is made from human plasma that is donated by healthy people. It contains antibodies collected from these healthy people that replace the missing antibodies in PI patients.