Where to get Antivenom

[Skiploder]

The State I currently live in does not allow ownership of exotic venomous snakes. I'm planning on moving in a couple of months to a State that does allow it. The snake I want to get is a Gaboon Viper.

This is as much as I will give you:

You will need to get both a BB-IND (investigational new drug permit) and an import permit. The FDA issues the first and the USDA the latter.

You will need to fill out many forms and the physician you plan on administering the antivenin will have to provide his resume and also fill out some forms.

If memory serves, every year you have to report to the FDA if you had to use any antivenin.

A gaboon envenomation is serious business. A minimum a 10 vials of antivenin are needed per bite. When I was buying dispholidus antivenin the cost was $125 per vial - and that was a while ago - but it was the same manufacturer.

Plus you will need full instructions (protocols) if you get bitten. You also need to find a physician that can properly treat you if you get envenomated. If you think you can drive yourself to the nearest Kaiser and have some emergency room schlub save your a$$ you are in for a nasty surprise.

As for the manufacturer links and the link to all the forms, you are on your own. Hopefully the process of working all this out will make you think twice about going forward with this.