We would like to remind our patients who carry and adrenaline auto-injector (Epipen/Emerade/Jext):
- It is vital to carry 2 in-date adrenaline auto-injectors with you at all times and replace them before they expire – Please check your inhaler dates regularly and reorder if needed.
- make sure you and your caregivers know when and how to use your adrenaline auto-injector before you need to use it in an emergency; practice with a training device so you are familiar with how your particular auto-injector works
- always read the Patient Information Leaflet that accompanies your medicines and ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist if you have any questions
- you should use your adrenaline auto-injector as soon as you suspect a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), especially any signs affecting your airway (swelling of your tongue or a feeling of constriction in your throat), breathing (wheezing, difficulty in breathing), or your circulation (feeling faint, dizzy, cold clammy skin)
At first signs of anaphylaxis:
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector immediately; do not delay
- Call 999, ask for an ambulance, and say ana-phyl-ax-is (even if symptoms appear to be improving after using an auto-injector)
- Lie down and raise your legs
- Use a second auto-injector if your symptoms haven’t improved after 5 minutes
- Lying down is important to keep blood flowing to your organs; you can sit up if you are struggling to breathe, but keep your legs elevated as far as possible and lie back down again as soon as you can