Product Details

What you need to know before you use EpiPen

Do not use EpiPen® There is no known reason why anyone should not use EpiPen® during an allergic emergency. Take special care with EpiPen® Adrenaline is essential for the treatment of anaphylaxis. However, take special care with EpiPen® : • particularly if you have heart disease as it may affect the medicines that you are taking and may bring on an attack of chest pain (angina) • if you have an overactive thyroid • if you have high blood pressure • if you have diabetes • if you are elderly, pregnant or the child weighs less than 25 kg (3 stone 13 lbs) as there is a greater risk of getting side effects. • if you have increased pressure in your eye(s) (glaucoma) • if you have severe kidney problems • if you have a tumour in your prostrate • if you have high calcium levels or a low potassium level in your blood • if you have Parkinson’s disease

Make sure you have discussed this with your doctor if any of these apply to you. Patients with these conditions, or anyone who may be in the position to administer EpiPen® to a patient having an allergic reaction, should be properly instructed on how and when to give it. The instructions for use must be carefully followed in order to avoid accidental injection. EpiPen® should only be injected into the outer thigh. It should not be injected into the buttock due to the risk of accidental injection into a vein. Warnings and precautions If you have asthma you may be at increased risk of severe allergic reaction. Anyone who has an episode of anaphylaxis should see their doctor about testing for substances they may be allergic to, so these can be strictly avoided in future. It is important to be aware that an allergy to one substance can lead to allergies to a number of related substances. If you have food allergies it is important to check the ingredients in everything you ingest (including medicines) as even small amounts can cause severe reactions. Accidental injection into the hands or fingers may result in reduced blood supply to these areas. If there is an accidental injection into these areas, you should go immediately to the nearest hospital casualty department for treatment. If you have a thick-subcutaneous fat layer, there is a risk of the adrenaline not reaching the muscle tissue resulting in a suboptimal effect. In such individuals there may be a higher likelihood of needing a second injection with an additional EpiPen. Therefore you should ensure you carry two auto-injectors with you at all times. In case of injection performed by a caregiver, immobilization of the patient’s leg should be ensured during injection to minimize the risk of injection site laceration. The needle should never be reinserted after use. Other medicines and EpiPen® When being prescribed EpiPen® , please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take, any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription as they may affect how the adrenaline works. This is especially important if you take any of the following: Antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors), since the effects of adrenaline may be increased. Medicines that may make the heart sensitive to uneven beats (arrhythmias), such as digitalis, mercurial diuretics or quinidine. • Medicines for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease such as catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors (COMT inhibitors) and levodopa since the effect of adrenaline may be increased • Beta-blocking medicines for heart disease or medicines to treat disorders of the nervous system as they can reduce the effect of adrenaline • Medicines for thyroid disease • Medicines that make you breathe more easily; used for asthma (theophylline) • Medicines used in labour (oxytocin) • Medicines used to treat allergies such as diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine (antihistamines) • Medicines that act on the nervous system (parasympatholytics). Diabetic patients should carefully monitor their glucose levels after use of EpiPen® as adrenaline can reduce the amount of insulin made by the body, thus increasing the blood glucose level. Pregnancy Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. There is limited experience of the use of adrenaline during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, do not hesitate to use EpiPen® in an emergency, since you and your baby’s lives may be in danger. Discuss this with your doctor if you are pregnant. Driving and using machines The ability to drive and use machines is unlikely to be affected by the administration of an adrenaline injection but may be affected by an anaphylactic reaction. If affected do not drive. EpiPen® contains EpiPen® contains sodium metabisulphite (E223), which may rarely cause severe allergic reactions (hypersensitivity) or breathing difficulty