Pronunciation: EP-i-NEF-rin
Generic Name: Epinephrine
Brand Name: Examples include EpiPen and Twinject
EpiPen Auto-Injector is used for:
Treating severe allergic reactions (eg, difficulty breathing; rash; hives; itching; tightness in the chest; severe dizziness; swelling of the mouth, lips, or tongue) caused by insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, or other causes. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
EpiPen Auto-Injector is a sympathomimetic. It works on blood vessels to improve blood pressure and on the smooth muscle of the lungs to help breathing. It also works by decreasing rash, hives, and swelling.
Do NOT use EpiPen Auto-Injector if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in EpiPen Auto-Injector, unless your doctor tells you otherwise
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using EpiPen Auto-Injector:
Some medical conditions may interact with EpiPen Auto-Injector. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances (eg, sulfites)
- if you have heart disease, chest pain, high blood pressure, blood vessel problems, diabetes, Parkinson disease, thyroid problems, mood or mental disorders (eg, depression), asthma, or an irregular heartbeat
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with EpiPen Auto-Injector. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Bromocriptine, furazolidone, or linezolid, because the risk of side effects, such as headache, high temperature, and high blood pressure, may be increased
- Antiarrhythmics (eg, quinidine), digoxin, diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide), or droxidopa because the risk of irregular heartbeat may be increased
- Alpha-blockers (eg, prazosin), beta-blockers (eg, propanolol), droxidopa, ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), or phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine) because the risk of high or low blood pressure and fast or slow heartbeat may be increased
- Antihistamines (eg, chlorpheniramine), catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors (eg, entacapone), levothyroxine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (eg, phenelzine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because they may increase the risk of EpiPen Auto-Injector's side effects
- Alpha-blockers (eg, prazosin), beta-blockers (eg, propanolol), ergot alkaloids (eg, ergotamine), and phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine) because they may increase the risk of EpiPen Auto-Injector's side effects
- Guanethidine because its effectiveness may be decreased by EpiPen Auto-Injector
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if EpiPen Auto-Injector may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use EpiPen Auto-Injector:
Use EpiPen Auto-Injector as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- An extra patient leaflet is available with EpiPen Auto-Injector. Talk to your pharmacist if you have questions about this information.
- EpiPen Auto-Injector may be given as an injection at your doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. If you will be using EpiPen Auto-Injector at home, a health care provider will teach you how to use it. Be sure you understand how to use EpiPen Auto-Injector. Follow the procedures you are taught when you use a dose. Contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
- Check EpiPen Auto-Injector regularly. Replace EpiPen Auto-Injector if the expiration date has passed, if it contains particles or is discolored (pink or darker than slightly yellow), or if it is cracked or damaged in any way. If EpiPen Auto-Injector has been dropped, inspect it for damage or leakage and replace it if necessary.
- Inject EpiPen Auto-Injector only into the outer thigh, as directed by your health care provider. Do not inject into the buttocks or into a vein.
- Go to the nearest hospital emergency room immediately after use. You may need further medical attention. Tell the doctor or health care provider that you have received an injection of epinephrine. Show the thigh where the injection was given to the doctor. Give your used auto-injector to the doctor for inspection and proper disposal.
- Keep this product, as well as syringes and needles, out of the reach of children and pets. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials. Ask your health care provider how to dispose of these materials after use. Follow all local rules for disposal.
- EpiPen Auto-Injector is usually given in an emergency situation. If you are unable to use EpiPen Auto-Injector, seek medical attention immediately.
- If you miss a dose of EpiPen Auto-Injector, seek immediate medical attention.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use EpiPen Auto-Injector.
Important safety information:
- Never put your thumb, fingers, or hand over the tip of the auto-injector. Do NOT remove the cap until you are ready to use EpiPen Auto-Injector.
- Only inject EpiPen Auto-Injector into the outer thigh. Never inject EpiPen Auto-Injector into hands, fingers, feet, or toes. Doing so may cause a loss of blood flow and result in tissue damage to these areas. If you accidentally inject EpiPen Auto-Injector into any of these areas, seek immediate emergency medical attention.
- It may be helpful to train others how to give EpiPen Auto-Injector in case you are unable to give it to yourself during a reaction.
- Diabetes patients - EpiPen Auto-Injector may raise your blood sugar. High blood sugar may make you feel confused, drowsy, or thirsty. It can also make you flush, breathe faster, or have a fruit-like breath odor. If these symptoms occur or persist, tell your doctor right away.
- Patients with Parkinson disease may notice a temporary worsening of symptoms (eg, uncontrolled muscle movements). If these symptoms persist, contact your doctor.
- Use EpiPen Auto-Injector with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using EpiPen Auto-Injector while you are pregnant. It is not known if EpiPen Auto-Injector is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use EpiPen Auto-Injector, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of EpiPen Auto-Injector:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Dizziness; feeling anxious, nervous, or fearful; headache; nausea; nervousness; paleness; restlessness; shakiness or weakness; sweating; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; wheezing.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: EpiPen side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include chest pain; confusion; extreme paleness or coldness of the skin; fast or irregular heartbeat; one-sided weakness; severe headache or dizziness; slurred speech; trouble breathing; vision problems.
Proper storage of EpiPen Auto-Injector:
Store EpiPen Auto-Injector at room temperature, between 60 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store in the carrying case provided. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep EpiPen Auto-Injector out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about EpiPen Auto-Injector, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- EpiPen Auto-Injector is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about EpiPen Auto-Injector. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More EpiPen resources
- EpiPen Side Effects (in more detail)
- EpiPen Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- EpiPen Drug Interactions
- EpiPen Support Group
- 2 Reviews for EpiPen - Add your own review/rating
- EpiPen Auto-Injector Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)
- Adrenaclick Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Adrenaclick Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Epinephrine Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Epinephrine Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Epinephrine (Mydriatic) eent Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Medihaler-Epi Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Twinject Auto-Injector Prescribing Information (FDA)
Compare EpiPen with other medications
- Adams-Stokes Syndrome
- Allergic Reactions
- Asthma, acute
- Asystole
- AV Heart Block
- COPD, Acute
- Electromechanical Dissociation
- Shock
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