Life-threatening allergic responses brought on by foods, medicines, latex, insect bites or stings, and other causes are treated with epinephrine injections in addition to emergency medical care. Epinephrine belongs to the group of drugs known as alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonists (sympathomimetic agents). It functions by relaxing the airway muscles and constricting the blood vessels.

Epinephrine injection is available in vials to be injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously and comes in prefilled automatic injection devices with a solution (liquid) (into the muscle). At the first indication of a severe allergic reaction, it is often administered as needed. Use epinephrine injection precisely as instructed; do not provide it more frequently or in larger or smaller doses than recommended by your doctor.

You should ask your doctor or pharmacist to demonstrate how to use the prefilled automated injection device to you and any other caregivers who could be injecting the medication. To practise using the automatic injection device in an emergency, training equipment is available. Training tools don’t feature a needle or include any drug. Read the enclosed patient information before administering epinephrine injection for the first time. Instructions for using the prefilled automated injection device are included in this material. If you or your caregivers have any questions about how to inject this drug, be sure to ask your pharmacist or doctor.

As soon as you believe you might be having a major allergic response, you should administer an epinephrine injection. Closing of the airways, wheezing, sneezing, hoarseness, hives, itching, swelling, skin redness, fast heartbeat, weak pulse, anxiety, confusion, stomach pain, losing control of urination or bowel motions, fainting, or loss of consciousness are all indications of a major allergic reaction. Discuss these symptoms with your doctor, and make sure you know how to recognise a significant allergic reaction and when to provide epinephrine.

Keep your automated injection tool close by or at all times so you can swiftly administer epinephrine if an allergic response starts. Be mindful of the device’s stamped expiration date and replace it after it has passed. Check the device’s solution from time to time. Make an appointment with your doctor to obtain a new injection device if the fluid is cloudy or contains particles.

Although an injection of epinephrine aids in the treatment of severe allergic responses, it does not replace medical care. After injecting epinephrine, seek immediate emergency medical attention. While you wait for urgent medical attention, relax calmly.

The majority of automatic injection devices have enough epinephrine solution for one dose. Your doctor might advise using a second dose of epinephrine injection with a different injection method if your symptoms persist or worsen after the initial injection. Make sure you understand how to administer the second dose and how to determine whether a second dose is necessary. More than two injections should only be administered by a medical professional during a single allergy episode.

In an emergency, epinephrine can be administered through clothing if necessary and should only be injected in the middle of the outside side of the thigh. Hold the kid’s leg firmly in place and restrict movement before and during the injection if you are administering epinephrine to a young child who may move during the injection. Never inject epinephrine into a vein or into your buttocks, or into any other part of your body, including your fingers, wrists, or feet. Never place your hand, fingers, or thumb above the automatic injection device’s needle. In the event that epinephrine is unintentionally administered into these locations, seek emergency medical attention right away.

There will be some solution left in the injection device after you administer a dose of epinephrine. This is typical and does not indicate that you did not take the recommended dosage. Useless liquid should be disposed of properly; do not use additional liquid. Ask your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare practitioner how to properly dispose of old injectable devices, or bring the used device with you to the emergency department.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before using epinephrine injection,

• If you have any allergies to epinephrine, other drugs, sulfites, or any of the other components of epinephrine injection, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. Even if you are allergic to one of the chemicals, your doctor may advise you to use epinephrine injection because it is a life-saving drug. If you have a latex allergy, you can use the epinephrine automated injection device without risk because it doesn’t contain latex.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), maprotiline, mirtazapine (Remeron), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil) are some antidepressants. Other medications include beta blockers; Diuretics (also known as “water pills”), digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), ergotamine (Ergomar, in Cafergot, in Migergot), methylergonovine (Methergine), levothyroxine (Levo-T, Levoxyl, Tironsint, among others), quinidine (in Nuedexta), medications for irregular heartbeats, such as phentolamine, and levothy (Oraverse, Regitine). Also let your doctor know if you are currently taking, or have just discontinued taking, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to keep a close eye out for any negative effects.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had Parkinson’s disease, asthma, diabetes, hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid), pheochromocytoma (an adrenal gland tumour), irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, or chest pain.
• If you are breastfeeding a child or intend to become pregnant, let your doctor know. If you are pregnant, discuss when and if you should provide epinephrine injection with your doctor.

Side effects from epinephrine injection are possible. When receiving emergency medical care following an epinephrine injection, inform your doctor if you experience any of the following side effects:

• At the injection site, there may be skin redness, swelling, warmth, or soreness
• Having trouble breathing
• Rapid, pounding, or erratic heartbeat
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Anxiety, worry, or restlessness
• Weakness
• Light skin
• Headache
• Uncontrollable trembling in a bodily portion

Keep this medication out of children’s reach and tightly closed in the plastic carrying tube it came in. Keep it away from light, excessive heat, and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom). Avoid storing epinephrine injection in the refrigerator or leaving it in your car, especially during extreme temperatures. Check to verify if the prefilled automatic injection device is broken or leaking if it is dropped. Any medication that should not be used or that is damaged should be disposed of, and a replacement should be on hand.

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• One side of the body experiences sudden numbness or weakness
• Difficulty speaking
• A slow or rapid heartbeat
• Breathing difficulty
• Rapid respiration
• Confusion
• Weakness or fatigue
• Pale, icy skin
• Less urinations

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

No one else should take your medication. Get a replacement as soon as possible if you use an automated injection device that is prefilled. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.