EpiPen

Generic name: Epinephrine Injection

Usage of EpiPen

EpiPen and Epipen Jr are used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, and other allergens, and also treat exercise-induced anaphylaxis. EpiPen Auto-Injectors reduce wheezing and improve low blood pressure, hives, severe low blood pressure, and other symptoms of an allergic reaction.

EpiPen contains epinephrine from a class of medications called sympathomimetic agents which works by relaxing the muscles in the airways and tightening the blood vessels. Epinephrine is also called adrenaline.

EpiPen Auto-Injectors are hand-held devices that automatically inject a measured dose of medicine. EpiPen Auto-Injectors make it easier to give epinephrine in an emergency when anaphylaxis occurs. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening and can happen within minutes and, if untreated, can lead to death. Each EpiPen or EpiPen Jr auto-injector can be used only 1 time (single-use).

Patients with a history of severe allergic reactions should keep EpiPen or EpiPen Jr Auto-injectors on hand for immediate self-injection if they have an allergic reaction. Epipens are for emergency supportive therapy only and do not take the place of emergency medical care. You should get emergency help right away after using your EpiPen or EpiPen Jr auto-injector.

EpiPen and EpiPen Jr auto-injectors have a Never-See-Needle® that covers the needle before and after you inject, so you should never see a needle. If you can see a needle, do not use the EpiPen or EpiPen Jr auto-injector.

EpiPen side effects

Before using EpiPen, tell your doctor if any past use has caused an allergic reaction to get worse.

Call your doctor at once if you notice pain, swelling, warmth, redness, or other signs of infection around the area where you gave an injection.

Side effects may be more likely in older adults.

Common EpiPen side effects may include:

breathing problems;

fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats;

pale skin, sweating;

nausea and vomiting;

dizziness;

weakness or tremors;

headache; or

feeling restless, fearful, nervous, anxious, or excited.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking EpiPen

Before using EpiPen, tell your doctor if any past use has caused an allergic reaction to get worse.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart disease or high blood pressure;

asthma;

Parkinson's disease;

depression or mental illness;

a thyroid disorder; or

diabetes.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Having an allergic reaction while pregnant or nursing could harm both mother and baby.

You may need to use EpiPen during pregnancy or while you are breastfeeding. Seek emergency medical attention right away after using the injection. Epinephrine is the first-line medication of choice for the treatment of anaphylaxis during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Epinephrine should be used for the treatment of anaphylaxis during pregnancy and breastfeeding in the same manner as it is used in non-pregnant and non-breastfeeding patients.

If possible during an emergency, tell your medical caregivers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How to use EpiPen

Usual Epipen dose patients over 30kg (66 lbs): EpiPen 0.3 mg.

Usual Epipen dose patients 15 to 30 kg (33 lbs to 66 lbs): EpiPen Jr 0.15 mg.

Inject intramuscularly or suBCutaneously into the outer thigh, through clothing if necessary. Each device is a single-dose injection.

Epipen is available as:

EpiPen Auto-Injector 0.3 mg (0.3 mg/0.3 mL) single-dose pre-filled auto-injector

EpiPen Jr Auto-Injector: 0.15 mg (0.15 mg/0.3 mL) single-dose pre-filled auto-injectorkilograms).

Warnings

EpiPen Auto-Injectors are used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

Seek emergency medical attention even after you use EpiPen to treat a severe allergic reaction. You will need to receive further treatment and observation.

Before using EpiPen a second time, tell your doctor if your first injection caused a serious side effect such as increased breathing difficulty, or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

It is recommended that patients at risk of anaphylaxis carry 2 auto-injectors in case the first auto-injector is activated before the dose can be given, or you need a second dose.

You may not know when anaphylaxis will happen. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need more auto-injectors to keep at work, school, or other locations. Make sure your family members, caregivers, and others where you keep your EpiPen or EpiPen Jr auto-injectors and they know how to use it before you need it. You may be unable to speak in an allergic emergency.

A “trainer pen” is available to teach and practice giving an injection. The trainer pen contains no medicine and no needle.

What other drugs will affect EpiPen

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

asthma medicine;

an antidepressant;

cold or allergy medicine (Benadryl and others);

heart or blood pressure medicine;

thyroid medication; or

ergot medicine - dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with epinephrine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.