Choosing the correct spider bite medicine involves determining the severity of the bite and what type of spider caused it. Home treatments include applying ice to the bite site as well as using topical antibiotic ointment. More severe spider bites will require a visit to the doctor and potentially, a scraping procedure to aid in healing. In most cases, spider bites can be treated at home with little or no medical intervention; it is important, however, to know when to seek medical help. Certain symptoms such as blurred vision, vomiting and nausea, and stomach cramping signal a serious bite infection and indicate that the patient should seek emergency medical care.
Sometimes, especially with minor bites, the most effective spider bite medicine is a cold cloth or ice pack applied to the skin. It is recommended to place a cloth between the skin and the ice pack to reduce the possibility of further damaging the skin. This technique helps reduce painful swelling and should be done after the bite has been cleaned with soap and water and carefully dried. Spider bites often cause some pain and discomfort, and many people use over-the-counter pain killers to relieve those symptoms. If home treatments are not effective, the patient should make an appointment to see their doctor as soon as possible.
Spider bite medicine is also in the form of ointments and creams. It is not unusual for antibiotic creams to be applied to the bite area to prevent or heal infections caused by the venom. The skin should be clean and dry before application and may be covered with a bandage to protect it from outside contaminants. It is common practice for pain relievers and oral antihistamines to be taken as well. These treatments help reduce pain, swelling, and the itching common in spider bite reactions.
In most situations, spider bites are relatively minor and can be treated easily, though there are cases that require medical care. For serious or severely infected spider bites, a doctor sometimes scrapes the surface of the bite, removing the hard outer scab. He or she then allows the infection to drain as much as possible and applies a prescription strength antibiotic cream to the bite. The procedure allows the spider bite medicine to be more deeply absorbed into the infection area. In the case of an extremely venomous spider bite, the bitten person may require surgery to repair damaged tissue, along with other treatments to enhance healing.