An EpiPen is a brand name for an epinephrine auto-injector. It is a medical device used to treat a severe allergic reaction, also called anaphylaxis.
If someone with food allergies is exposed to a food they are allergic to, their body can react quickly. Symptoms might include trouble breathing, swelling of the throat, hives, vomiting, dizziness, or a sudden drop in blood pressure. This is when epinephrine is needed.
An EpiPen delivers a measured dose of epinephrine into the thigh muscle. Epinephrine works fast to relax airway muscles, improve breathing, raise blood pressure, and help stop the reaction from getting worse.
For many allergy families, carrying an EpiPen (or a generic version) becomes part of everyday life. EpiPens come in two packs, and it’s recommended you carry both on you at all times, in case you need a second dose. You hope you never need it, but you always have it nearby. You do need to realize that they are temperature sensitive, so the place you keep it will need to adhere to the directions on the box.
It is important to know that an EpiPen is not optional for someone at risk of anaphylaxis. It is the first line of treatment.
To ensure you know when to use it for your individual allergies, be sure to fill out an Food Allergy Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan with your board certified allergist so you know what circumstances require it and what to do following the administration of it.
Learning how and when to use an epinephrine auto-injector can feel scary at first. But once you understand it, it becomes one more way you keep yourself safe and prepared.
