Category

• Immunizing agent (passive)

Description

Tetanus antitoxin (TET-uh-nus AN-ti-TOK-sin) is used to prevent and/or treat tetanus infection (also known as lockjaw). Tetanus is a serious illness that causes convulsions (seizures) and severe muscle spasms that can be strong enough to cause bone fractures of the spine. Tetanus causes death in 30 to 40 percent of people who get it.

In recent years, two thirds of all tetanus cases have been in persons 50 years of age and older. Having a tetanus infection in the past does not make you immune to tetanus in the future.

Tetanus antitoxin works by giving your body the antibodies it needs to protect it against tetanus infection. This is called passive protection. This passive protection lasts long enough to protect you until your body can produce its own antibodies against tetanus.

Tetanus antitoxin is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor or other health care professional. It is available in the following dosage form:

Parenteral
• Injection (Africa, Asia, and Latin America)

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

Another commonly used name is TAT .

*† Not commercially available in the U.S. and Canada.