epinephrine-epipen

Always carry epinephrine (Epipen) with you at all times so you can be prepared in case you have an allergic reaction.

Make sure you're able to recognize the symptoms of anaphylaxis and know how to correctly give yourself epinephrine (Epipen) injections.

Each brand-name product of epinephrine might have slightly different directions, so be sure to review the instructions for your particular product: EpiPen, EpiPen JR, Adrenaclick, Symjepi. It's also a good idea to go over this information with friends or family members because you might need their help with this medication in emergency situations.

Inject the medication only into the middle of the outer thigh. Never inject into other parts of the body because the medication might not work as well. If necessary, you can inject through clothing. Never put your thumbs, fingers, or hand over the exposed needle.

If you're giving epinephrine (Epipen) to a child, make sure to hold their leg down firmly to prevent it from moving around too much. Doing so will make sure that the needle from the device doesn't break, get stuck in the skin, or accidentally cut through the child's skin during the injection process.

The auto-injector device or prefilled syringe delivers a single dose. Once it's been activated and used, don't try to reuse the same device or syringe again. It's normal if some medication still remains in the device after use. If you need to repeat a second dose, make sure to use a brand new device or syringe.

Store epinephrine (Epipen) at room temperature in the original container to protect it from light. Don't expose the medication to extreme heat (e.g., car glovebox) or cold (e.g., refrigerator or freezer) because this can damage the medication and make it not work well for you. If you do, throw it away and use a new prefilled syringe or device, or ask your provider for a new prescription.