What treatment is available for rabies?
There is no effective treatment for rabies once symptoms have started. However, rabies infection can be very effectively prevented by a combination of rabies vaccine and a product called Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) which provides protection against rabies while the vaccine is taking effect. In the United States, postexposure prophylaxis consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. The RIG and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses of rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine. Will the rabies vaccine make me sick? Adverse reactions to rabies vaccine and immune globulin are not common. Newer vaccines in use today cause fewer adverse reactions than previously available vaccines. Mild, local reacti
