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Diphtheria antitoxin Injection
  • Treatments
  • Diphtheria Prophylaxis

Diphtheria antitoxin (Injection)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 4, 2022.

Uses for diphtheria antitoxin

Diphtheria antitoxin is used to prevent and/or treat diphtheria infection in persons exposed to the disease.

Although rare in the U.S., diphtheria is a serious disease that can cause life-threatening illnesses. Diphtheria is transmitted through contact with an infected person or a carrier of the disease.

Diphtheria antitoxin is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor or other health care professional.

Before using diphtheria antitoxin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For diphtheria antitoxin, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to diphtheria antitoxin or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Although there is no specific information comparing use of diphtheria antitoxin in children with use in other age groups, diphtheria antitoxin is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults.

Geriatric

Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of diphtheria antitoxin in the elderly with use in other age groups. However, there is no evidence that the effects of diphtheria antitoxin in older adults differ from those in younger persons.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of diphtheria antitoxin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems.

Proper use of diphtheria antitoxin

Dosing

The dose of diphtheria antitoxin will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of diphtheria antitoxin. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depend...