Response of the box-jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) cardiotoxin to intravenous administration of verapamil.
Verapamil, a calcium antagonist, has been shown to be effective in delaying death in mice after intravenous challenge with box-jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) venom. Death from a challenge of up to three mouse-lethal doses of venom was significantly delayed after the prior intravenous administration of verapamil (P = 0.003). A smaller dose of verapamil could "rescue" mice previously envenomed with 1.25 mouse-lethal doses (P = 0.0001). These data suggest that verapamil injections should be added to the first-aid procedures performed on the beach for victims of box-jellyfish stings.
D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003063:Cnidaria; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D051379:Mice; D037401:Scyphozoa; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D014700:Verapamil