Frequently Asked Questions

It can be terrifying to suddenly find yourself short of breath or breaking into a rash after eating a certain food or being stung or bitten by an insect. Be prepared with your EpiPen^® Auto-Injector and the more you know about an allergic emergency, the better prepared you'll be.

Severe Allergies and Anaphylaxis

What is an allergic emergency (anaphylaxis)?

An allergic emergency, medically defined as anaphylaxis, is a severe allergic reaction that can occur quickly (as fast as within a couple of minutes) and may be life-threatening. An allergic emergency can be caused by a number of triggers, including certain foods, stinging and biting insects, medications, and latex.

What are the symptoms of an allergic emergency?

Symptoms of an allergic emergency vary, but those involving the skin (hives, itching, skin redness) are most common. A majority of cases also involve swelling of the lips and tongue as well as the airways (tightness in the throat, shortness of breath). Fewer reactions involve the gastrointestinal system (nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea), the cardiovascular system (fast heartbeat, chest pain, low blood pressure), or the central nervous system (headache, confusion).

Who may be at risk for an allergic emergency?

Anyone can develop a severe allergy at any time in life, but certain factors may make some individuals susceptible to having an allergic emergency. These factors can be divided into two categories:

1) General factors that increase the risk of having a severe allergic emergency including:

• Exposure to certain allergens (triggers) such as food (eg, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, and  milk), stinging or biting insects (eg, bees, ants, and ticks), latex, and medications (eg, penicillin) for those who are allergic
•  Age: Adolescents and young adults are at an increased risk of having a severe allergic emergency because of inconsistent behaviors in avoiding known triggers and carrying an epinephrine auto-injector

2) Factors that may increase the severity of a severe allergic emergency including:

• Age: The elderly are at an increased risk of having a more severe allergic emergency because of accompanying disorders and medications used to treat accompanying disorders such as heart disease. In addition, the elderly are at an increased risk of having a more severe allergic emergency if they are exposed to insect venom (eg, stung by an insect)
• Disorders that make the symptoms of allergic emergencies difficult to recognize such as impaired vision, seizures, or depression
• Medications or chemicals which make the symptoms of allergic emergencies difficult to recognize such as antidepressants, sedatives, or alcohol
• Disorders such as asthma (especially if severe or not controlled with medication), heart disease, high blood pressure and cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke
• Certain medications used in the treatment of heart disease such as beta-blockers, which may block the medicinal benefits of epinephrine  

Talk to your health care professional to determine if you may be at risk for an allergic emergency — and if you should be prescribed an EpiPen Auto-Injector. It’s important that those at risk for an allergic emergency avoid known allergy-causing triggers and always carry an EpiPen Auto-Injector.

Remember that if the right precautions are taken, an allergic emergency may be preventable.

I’ve had an allergic emergency. Can I have another one, or have I built up a tolerance to the trigger?

If you have had an allergic emergency, you’re at higher risk for another allergic emergency — possibly life-threatening. The progression of an allergic emergency is often unpredictable, so initially mild symptoms shouldn’t be ignored — these can progress to a severe reaction that could have life-threatening consequences.

What foods typically cause allergic emergencies?

About 4% of Americans have some type of food allergy, but not everyone will have an allergic emergency. Peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts and pecans), seafood, cow’s milk, and eggs account for the majority of allergic emergencies in young children, while seafood accounts for the vast majority of allergic emergencies in adults.

Your EpiPen Auto-Injector

How should the EpiPen Auto-Injector be used?

Once you’re familiar with your EpiPen Auto-Injector, giving yourself or someone in your care an epinephrine injection is really quite simple — and it can help save a life. Here’s what you need to do:

1.    Pull off blue safety release cap.

2.    Swing and firmly push orange tip against outer thigh so it ‘clicks.’ HOLD on thigh approximately 10 seconds to deliver drug.

3.    Seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 and going to the closest medical facility. Take the used EpiPen Auto-Injector(s) with you to hospital emergency department.

To watch the EpiPen How-to-Use video, please click here. To download the Patient Information, please click here.

Where’s the best place to keep the EpiPen Auto-Injector? 

You should take your EpiPen Auto-Injector everywhere you go, but it should be kept at room temperature (25°C, 77°F) until the marked expiration date, when it should be replaced. The effectiveness of this drug may decrease after the expiration date therefore care should be taken to promptly refill the prescription before the expiration date. Your EpiPen Auto-Injector should not be refrigerated or exposed to extreme heat or light.

 If you need additional EpiPen Auto-Injectors to keep at work, school or any other location, talk to your health care professional.

Where should a child keep an EpiPen Auto-Injector while at school?

Make sure your child or appropriate school personnel has immediate access to his/her EpiPen Auto-Injector. School regulations for carrying epinephrine auto-injectors vary and should be discussed with school personnel. School personnel should also be informed of your child’s history of an allergic emergency and the specific trigger(s) to which your child is allergic.

Is there one EpiPen Auto-Injector for everyone?

The EpiPen Auto-Injector contains a single dose of 0.3 mg of epinephrine, appropriate for people weighing more than 66 pounds. The EpiPen Jr Auto-Injector contains 0.15 mg of epinephrine for children weighing 33 to 66 pounds. Your health care professional will carefully determine the most appropriate dose of epinephrine for you or your child.

How does epinephrine work?

The drug product in the EpiPen Auto-Injector is epinephrine. Epinephrine by injection is the treatment of choice for allergic emergencies (anaphylactic reactions) because it quickly begins working to reverse symptoms of an allergic emergency. It constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure, relaxes smooth muscles in the lungs to reduce wheezing to improve breathing, stimulates the heart (increases heart rate), and works to reduce hives and swelling that may occur around the face and lips.

Is one dose of epinephrine always enough?

Approximately 20% of patients who receive an initial dose of epinephrine for treatment of allergic emergencies may require a second dose. Therefore it is important that patients at risk for allergic emergencies carry two doses of epinephrine. For your convenience, both the EpiPen and EpiPen Jr Auto-Injectors are available in 2-Pak cartons. That way, an extra dose is available if it’s needed. More than two doses of EpiPen Auto-Injector should only be administered under direct medical supervision. Make sure you speak with your health care professional about how to identify the signs and symptoms of an allergic emergency.  If you, your child or someone you're caring for shows signs or symptoms of an allergic emergency inject the health care professional-prescribed EpiPen or EpiPen Jr. immediately, then promptly call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. Take the used EpiPen Auto-Injector with you to the emergency room.

What if I'm not able to give myself an injection?

It's important that you and a family member or caregiver know how to administer an EpiPen Auto-Injector. Have your health care professional show someone close to you how to use your EpiPen Auto-Injector in case you can’t administer it yourself. Clear and simple directions are printed on the side of the Auto-Injector itself. For further instructions, contact your health care professional. You can also ask your health care professional about an EpiPen Auto-Injector training device. A training device is included with every 2-Pak carton.

Ask your health care professional about creating an allergic emergency medical action plan. Such plans list common signs and symptoms of an allergic emergency and emphasize the importance of using your EpiPen Auto-Injector promptly, calling 911, and seeking immediate medical treatment. These plans may also be personalized to include other life-threatening disorders or conditions you may have, other medications you’re currently taking, the specific dose of epinephrine prescribed for you, as well as contact information for caregivers or family members.

Can I reuse the EpiPen Auto-Injector?

No. Although liquid remains in the EpiPen Auto-Injector after an injection, it cannot be reused. Take your used EpiPen or EpiPen Jr Auto-Injector with you to the emergency room or health care professional’s office for proper disposal.

Do the EpiPen and EpiPen Jr Auto-Injectors expire? If so, what should I do when it expires?

Like any medication, the EpiPen Auto-Injector has an expiration date, which is printed on the side of the Auto-Injector. The effectiveness of this drug may decrease after the expiration date; therefore, care should be taken to promptly refill the prescription before the expiration date. You can register your EpiPen Auto-Injector online at MyEpiPen.com — an online resource center with helpful information about allergic emergencies and your EpiPen Auto-Injector. If you register your EpiPen Auto-Injector, MyEpiPen.com sends you refill reminders to help you renew your prescription before it expires.

Is the EpiPen Auto-Injector carrier tube waterproof?

No. The carrier tube has no rubber seal, so it’s not waterproof.