Some people may experience side effects to a life-saving medication called epinephrine.
However, it is unlikely that you’ve got the option to be “allergic” to epinephrine.
Epinephrine use in the case of allergic reaction affecting the airway has and will continue to save many lives.
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There is no absolute contraindication to using epinephrine in suspected cases of acute anaphylaxis.
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What Is Epinephrine?
Another name for epinephrine is adrenaline, and it is a hormone that is produced by your adrenal glands.
you’re free to’t live without it.
It also increases your awareness and gives you sharper vision and hearing.
Epinephrine is the drug of choice and the first drug that should be administered in acute anaphylaxis.
In most cases, a true allergy to epinephrine doesn’t exist.
The component of our immune system that causes respiratory-system swelling is tuned to react to foreign allergens.
As we react to different sources of stress differently, the affects of adrenaline will affect different people differently.
You may also be allergic to a combination medication.
In fact, you should consult a healthcare provider if you have ever needed to use an epipen.
You may need the help of a specialized doctor called an immunologist.
That’s because anaphylaxis is so life-threatening that the benefits may outweigh the risks.
You may want to look at options such as immunotherapy (allergy shots) to treat your condition.
Always call 911 even if you have your own epinephrine and have administered it.
Alvarez-Perea A, Tanno LK, Baeza ML.How to manage anaphylaxis in primary care.Clin Transl Allergy.
2017;7:45. doi:10.1186/s13601-017-0182-7
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Epinephrine Injection.
2019;19(3):175180. doi:10.17245/jdapm.2019.19.3.175
