Understanding snake venom pharmacokinetics is essential for developing risk assessment\nstrategies and determining the optimal dose and timing of antivenom required to bind all venom\nin snakebite patients. This review aims to explore the current knowledge of snake venom\npharmacokinetics in animals and humans. Literature searches were conducted using EMBASE\n(1974ââ?¬â??present) and Medline (1946ââ?¬â??present). For animals, 12 out of 520 initially identified studies met\nthe inclusion criteria. In general, the disposition of snake venom was described by a two-compartment\nmodel consisting of a rapid distribution phase and a slow elimination phase, with half-lives of\n5 to 48 min and 0.8 to 28 h, respectively, following rapid intravenous injection of the venoms\nor toxins. When the venoms or toxins were administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously,\nan initial absorption phase and slow elimination phase were observed. The bioavailability of\nvenoms or toxins ranged from 4 to 81.5% following intramuscular administration and 60% following\nsubcutaneous administration. The volume of distribution and the clearance varied between snake\nspecies. For humans, 24 out of 666 initially identified publications contained sufficient information\nand timed venom concentrations in the absence of antivenom therapy for data extraction. The data\nwere extracted and modelled in NONMEM. A one-compartment model provided the best fit, with an\nelimination half-life of 9.71 Ã?± 1.29 h. It is intended that the quantitative information provided in this\nreview will provide a useful basis for future studies that address the pharmacokinetics of snakebite\nin humans.
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