I think I read that coral snake anti-venom is no longer made...
I've never actually seen one in Texas, but that's the one that you really don't want to run into.
I've only seen one. Not in Texas, though. When I was a kid we took a trip to Ontario, Canada and the cabin we stayed in had wood burning stove. We were just moving stuff in when we saw a coral little snake crawl out of the wood box. My parents had a friend that killed them all the time and would send them pictures of them. The were longer than any of the pictures I've seen of coral snakes. He'd hang them on the clothes line for the pictures and some of them looked 3 feet long, maybe longer.
I didn't know the antivenin was unavailable. Probably not profitable enough. Coral snakes have short fangs and have to "chew" to deliver their venom. Most people probably pull the snake off before they get much delivered. Their venom is a neuro-toxin; pretty nasty stuff.
As with about 99% of the problems in this country, the source of the problem is the US government. The anti-venom isn't profitable enough for US companies so they stopped making it, and the US anti-venom is the only version approved by the FDA. A better anti-venom is made in Mexico, but it isn't approved by the FDA, and the approval process is so expensive no one is going to undergo it for a product sold in such limited quantities.
One night a couple of weeks ago my neighbor heard her beagle going nuts outside. When she went out to investigate, she found the beagle wrestling with a Texas Coral snake. Our neighbor found the nearest shovel and dispatched the coral with extreme prejudice and then sent out a warning to the neighbors. This is the first any of us has seen and it was a decent sized one. The beagle was unharmed thankfully. It is really disconcerting to read that the antivenin is no longer made or available here.
We had a nice discussion with our three year old about being careful with snakes, especially when she's out playing in the yard. Thankfully we've yet to see a cottonmouth or rattler in our neighborhood but I'm sure they're out there.
Ok...this maybe a stupid question, but can you LEGALLY bring this antivenom into the US from Mexico? I know many years ago, my grandparents would go every once and a while across the border to get their prescriptions filled because is was a lot cheaper for the same medications.
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txglock21 wrote:Ok...this maybe a stupid question, but can you LEGALLY bring this antivenom into the US from Mexico? I know many years ago, my grandparents would go every once and a while across the border to get their prescriptions filled because is was a lot cheaper for the same medications.
Not a stupid question at all, but probably not legally.
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My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!
txglock21 wrote:Ok...this maybe a stupid question, but can you LEGALLY bring this antivenom into the US from Mexico? I know many years ago, my grandparents would go every once and a while across the border to get their prescriptions filled because is was a lot cheaper for the same medications.
Not a stupid question at all, but probably not legally.
Even if you had it and needed it I doubt seriously if any licensed/certified health care professional would give you the antivenom due to liability and risk to their license.
Anygunanywhere
"When democracy turns to tyranny, the armed citizen still gets to vote." Mike Vanderboegh
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The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) (21 U.S.C. section 331) prohibits the interstate shipment (which includes importation) of unapproved new drugs. Thus, the importation of drugs that lack FDA approval, whether for personal use or otherwise, violates the Act. Unapproved new drugs are any drugs, including foreign-made versions of U.S. approved drugs, that have not been manufactured in accordance with and pursuant to an FDA approval. Under the Act, FDA may refuse admission to any drug that "appears" to be unapproved, placing the burden on the importer to prove that the drug sought to be imported is in fact approved by FDA.
The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) (21 U.S.C. section 331) prohibits the interstate shipment (which includes importation) of unapproved new drugs. Thus, the importation of drugs that lack FDA approval, whether for personal use or otherwise, violates the Act. Unapproved new drugs are any drugs, including foreign-made versions of U.S. approved drugs, that have not been manufactured in accordance with and pursuant to an FDA approval. Under the Act, FDA may refuse admission to any drug that "appears" to be unapproved, placing the burden on the importer to prove that the drug sought to be imported is in fact approved by FDA.
I can't find much information by a simple Google search.
I wonder what is the shelf-life of the anti venom and whether it has to be kept refrigerated.
Does the approval or importation of veterinary drugs fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA?
The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) (21 U.S.C. section 331) prohibits the interstate shipment (which includes importation) of unapproved new drugs. Thus, the importation of drugs that lack FDA approval, whether for personal use or otherwise, violates the Act. Unapproved new drugs are any drugs, including foreign-made versions of U.S. approved drugs, that have not been manufactured in accordance with and pursuant to an FDA approval. Under the Act, FDA may refuse admission to any drug that "appears" to be unapproved, placing the burden on the importer to prove that the drug sought to be imported is in fact approved by FDA.
I can't find much information by a simple Google search.
I wonder what is the shelf-life of the anti venom and whether it has to be kept refrigerated.
Does the importation of veterinary drugs fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA?
That's an interesting question. I think probably so. I know back in 1980 when I was working closely with my dad at his practice there was a very effective med for "dog itch" that was forced to change the formula by the FDA. I read up on the Coral Snake anti-venin issue and the Feds extended the expiration date at least once on some remaining vials. I doubt the Feds would go after a vet that had some of the Mexican stuff and used it on an animal. Whether it can come in legally for vet use as you queried would be the issue.
DMSO was bought from vets and feed stores by people that intended to use it for themselves even though it was only approved for equine usage. Only one lab made approved pure DMSO back then.
KAHR PM40/Hoffner IWB and S&W Mod 60/ Galco IWB
NRA Endowment Member, TSRA Life Member,100 Club Life Member,TFC Member
My Faith, My Gun and My Constitution: I cling to all three!
