Promethazine does not reduce reactions to bothrops antivenom

Promethazine is no more effective than placebo in preventing anaphylactic reactions to bothrops antivenom, a sequential randomised controlled trial has shown (p 1451). Various drugs are given to prevent early anaphylactic reactions caused by antivenom (hyperimmune sera) but their efficacy has not been rigorously tested. Fan et al gave intramuscular injections of placebo or promethazine to patients 15-20 minutes before administering bothrops antivenom. Adverse reactions occurred in 12/49 given promethazine and 13/52 given placebo. Most of the reactions were mild or moderate. The authors conclude that promethazine is ineffective and call for evaluation of other prophylactic strategies.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Article

Sequential randomised and double blind trial of promethazine prophylaxis against early anaphylactic reactions to antivenom for bothrops snake bites

Hui Wen Fan, Luiz F Marcopito, João Luiz C Cardoso, Francisco O S França, Ceila M S Malaque, Ronnei A Ferrari, Robert David G Theakston, and David A Warrell
BMJ 1999 318: 1451-1452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]