Season of the Snake

Definitely, there is something unsettling about getting bitten by a venomous snake (or, hey, any snake). But you know one of the most important things you can do, should it happen to you, is stay calm (whether you're the bitten or the rescuer). Someone recently--and creatively--asked could he take a Benadryl (www.benadryl.com) or another antihistamine. Benadryl does have a mild sedative effect. It can help you sleep. I don't, however, think it would help. The over the counter tabs are not strong enough unless you took enough to be dangerous. And if you were able to chemically alter the patient's level of consciousness, you really would not want to. LOC gives evidence of how the patient is handling the emergency. The only definitive treatment for snakebite remains antivenom. Do what you can, non-chemically, to keep the bitten calm--and find a doctor.