Talking to Patients About the Epinephrine Injection USP Auto Injector
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When prescribing epinephrine injection, please review the Patient Information Leaflet and Prescribing Information in detail with each patient. Instruct patients and/or caregivers in the appropriate use of epinephrine injection. Epinephrine injection should be injected into the middle of the outer thigh (through clothing if necessary). Instruct patients and/or caregivers to use the Trainer to familiarize themselves with the use of epinephrine injection in allergic emergency. The Trainer may be used multiple times.
Since no one can predict when life-threatening allergic reactions will occur, it’s vital that your patients carry their epinephrine injection with them at all times.
A friend or family member (ideally more than one) should be designated as a caregiver who is capable of administering the medication if the patient cannot do so. Whenever possible, you should train the caregiver the same way you train your patients, including having them view our training video and use the Product Trainer.
As a healthcare provider, you can also assist your patient in putting together an Emergency Action Plan. This helps instruct the designated caregiver(s) in the proper use of epinephrine injection and the need to seek emergency medical attention after an injection.
Talking to patients about Epinephrine Injection
When prescribing the epinephrine injection, please review the Patient Information Leaflet and Prescribing Information in detail with each patient. Instruct patients and/or caregivers in the appropriate use of epinephrine injection. Epinephrine injection should be injected into the middle of the outer thigh (through clothing if necessary). Instruct patients and/or caregivers to use the Trainer to familiarize themselves with the use of epinephrine injection in an allergic emergency. The Trainer may be used multiple times.
Since no one can predict when life-threatening allergic reactions will occur, it’s vital that your patients carry their epinephrine injection with them at all times.
A friend or family member (ideally more than one) should be designated as a caregiver who is capable of administering the medication if the patient cannot do so. Whenever possible, you should train the caregiver the same way you train your patients, including having them view our training video and use the Product Trainer.
As a healthcare provider, you can also assist your patient in putting together an Emergency Action Plan. This helps instruct the designated caregiver(s) in the proper use of epinephrine injection and the need to seek emergency medical attention after an injection.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Indications and Usage
Epinephrine injection is intended for immediate administration as emergency supportive therapy only and is not intended as a substitute for immediate medical care. In conjunction with the administration of epinephrine, the patient should seek immediate medical or hospital care. More than two sequential doses of epinephrine should only be administered under direct medical supervision.
Epinephrine injection should only be injected into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. Do not inject intravenously, into buttock, or into digits, hands, or feet. Instruct caregivers to hold the leg of young children firmly in place and limit movement prior to and during injection to minimize risk of injection-related injury.
Rare cases of serious skin and soft tissue infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis caused by Clostridia (gas gangrene) have been reported at the injection site following epinephrine injection for anaphylaxis. Advise patients to seek medical care if they develop signs or symptoms of infection such as persistent redness, warmth, swelling, or tenderness at the epinephrine injection site.
Epinephrine should be administered with caution to patients who have heart disease including patients with cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery or organic heart disease, or hypertension. In such patients, or in patients who are on drugs that may sensitize the heart to arrhythmias, epinephrine may precipitate or aggravate angina pectoris as well as produce ventricular arrhythmias. Arrhythmias, including fatal ventricular fibrillation, have been reported, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac disease or those receiving certain drugs.
Common adverse reactions to systemically administered epinephrine include anxiety; apprehensiveness; restlessness; tremor; weakness; dizziness; sweating; palpitations; pallor; nausea and vomiting; headache; and/or respiratory difficulties.
Click here for Full Prescribing Information for epinephrine injection.
Indications and Usage
Epinephrine injection is intended for immediate administration as emergency supportive therapy only and is not intended as a substitute for immediate medical care. In conjunction with the administration of epinephrine, the patient should seek immediate medical or hospital care. More than two sequential doses of epinephrine should only be administered under direct medical supervision.
Epinephrine injection should only be injected into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. Do not inject intravenously, into buttock, or into digits, hands, or feet. Instruct caregivers to hold the leg of young children firmly in place and limit movement prior to and during injection to minimize risk of injection-related injury.
Rare cases of serious skin and soft tissue infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis caused by Clostridia (gas gangrene) have been reported at the injection site following epinephrine injection for anaphylaxis. Advise patients to seek medical care if they develop signs or symptoms of infection such as persistent redness, warmth, swelling, or tenderness at the epinephrine injection site.
Epinephrine should be administered with caution to patients who have heart disease including patients with cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery or organic heart disease, or hypertension. In such patients, or in patients who are on drugs that may sensitize the heart to arrhythmias, epinephrine may precipitate or aggravate angina pectoris as well as produce ventricular arrhythmias. Arrhythmias, including fatal ventricular fibrillation, have been reported, particularly in patients with underlying cardiac disease or those receiving certain drugs.
Common adverse reactions to systemically administered epinephrine include anxiety; apprehensiveness; restlessness; tremor; weakness; dizziness; sweating; palpitations; pallor; nausea and vomiting; headache; and/or respiratory difficulties.
Click here for Full Prescribing Information for epinephrine injection.
