Epinephrine

What is Epinephrine?

Epinephrine is the generic version of the commonly known treatment called EpiPen. It’s an emergency treatment for a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. It delivers a dose of adrenaline, which helps counteract the allergic response.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening medical condition that requires immediate attention. It’s typically triggered by allergens such as certain foods (like peanuts or shellfish), bee stings, or other substances. When your body comes in contact with a trigger, it produces a rapid immune response that can lead to a drastic drop in blood pressure, tightening airways, and difficulty breathing. These severe reactions can occur within minutes, so it’s important to always carry an EpiPen to treat the reaction immediately.^[1]

How does Epinephrine work?

Epinephrine is a hormone in the fight-and-flight response that helps treat severe allergic reactions. It treats anaphylaxis rapidly in several ways:^[2]

• Constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure to help prevent you from losing consciousness.
• Opens the airways by relaxing the muscles in the airways, so it’s easier to breathe.
• Increases heart rate to force the heart to contract and maintain blood flow to the vital organs.

What doses of Epinephrine are there?

Epinephrine is an auto-injector pen containing a single dose of 0.3mg. It’s crucial you deliver the full dose as soon as you notice the first signs of an anaphylactic reaction. Sometimes, a second pen may be required if the symptoms don’t subside after 5 minutes.

There are other pens available that contain 0.15mg dose; these are often used for children with a body weight of less than 15kg.

How to take Epinephrine

Epinephrine is often administered by someone else, not the person experiencing a reaction, so it’s important for those close to you to know how to use it.

You should inject the pen immediately as soon as you notice the first sign of an anaphylactic reaction, as delaying treatment can be life-threatening.

To inject Epinephrine:

1. Hold the pen from the side, making sure your fingers don’t touch either end.
2. Remove the blue safety cap.
3. Hold the pen at least 10 cm away from the thigh. The orange end should be facing the thigh.
4. Jab the pen to the outer thigh.
5. Hold firmly for 3 seconds.
6. Remove the pen.
7. Phone 911.
8. If the symptoms don’t improve within 5 minutes, you may need to use a second pen.

You don’t need to remove any clothing as the needle will piece through the clothes.

If you’re unsure which end has the needle, remember this rhyme: Orange to the thigh, blue to the sky.

The orange end contains the needle and helps deliver the dose of Epinephrine. The blue end is a safety cap that must be removed before injecting the dose.

How long does Epinephrine take to work?

Epinephrine works immediately to relieve an allergic reaction. But it can take around 5-10 minutes to feel the full effect. If the symptoms don’t relieve after 5 minutes, a second dose is required. After about 20 minutes, the effects should begin to wear off.^[1]

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Epinephrine?

• If you accidentally inject it: You may experience side effects like increased heart rate, sweating and anxiety. You should seek medical attention immediately. To prevent this, only remove the blue safety cap when injecting.
• If you accidentally inject your finger or hand: This can decrease blood supply to the injected area, so you should go to the hospital immediately.
• If you didn’t jab hard enough: The plunger may not have been activated, meaning the needle delivering the medicine won’t be released. If the pen hasn’t been activated, jab it again with more force.
• If you didn’t hold the pen long enough: The full dose might not have been delivered. Don’t re-insert the needle. Instead, monitor the person’s condition and decide whether a second pen is needed.