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epinephrine-epipen
Used for Anaphylaxis
Used for Anaphylaxis
Epinephrine (Epipen), also known as the hormone adrenaline, is a life-saving injectable medication used to ease symptoms of anaphylaxis. It's available as a pre-filled syringe and auto-injector device that you inject into the muscle or under the skin of the middle of the outer thigh. Epinephrine (Epipen) can stabilize your blood pressure and heart rate, as well as ease your breathing. Side effects of this medication include restlessness, high blood pressure, and fast heart rate.
What is Epinephrine (Epipen)?
What is Epinephrine (Epipen) used for?
- Severe allergic reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis)
How Epinephrine (Epipen) works
Epinephrine (Epipen) is a non-selective alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor agonist that acts on receptors throughout the body. In doing so, it keeps your blood pressure from dropping too low, raises your heart rate, and opens your lungs so you can breathe normally. It also helps with swelling, itching, rashes, hives, and stomach issues linked to an allergic reaction.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, Adrenaclick, Symjepi |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Adrenergic receptor agonist |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
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Side effects of Epinephrine (Epipen)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Feeling anxious, nervous, or restless
- Shaking or tremors
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Racing heart
Less Common Side Effects
- Pale skin color
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
Epinephrine (Epipen) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmias): fatigue, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating
- High blood pressure: headache, chest pain, dizziness, blurry vision
- Serious infection at injection site: skin redness, tenderness, swelling, warmth
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The following Epinephrine (Epipen) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Abnormal or decreased touch sensation
arm, back, or jaw pain
bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
blurred vision
chest pain, tightness, heaviness, or discomfort
cold, pale, or bluish color of the skin of the fingers or toes
confusion
difficulty in speaking
dizziness
double vision
fainting
fast, slow, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
headache
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
numbness, tingling, or pain in the fingers
paleness of the skin
pounding in the ears
restlessness
shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
slow speech
sweating
trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
trouble breathing
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Agitation
coldness of the skin
confusion
decreased awareness or responsiveness
decreased urine output
drowsiness
hostility
irritability
lightheadedness
loss of consciousness
muscle twitching
rapid weight gain
rapid, deep breathing
seizures
severe sleepiness
stomach cramps
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
unusual drowsiness, dullness, or feeling of sluggishness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$279.40
GoodRx discount
$176.76
Pros and cons of Epinephrine (Epipen)
Pros
- A life-saving medication for severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
- Comes as easy-to-use, prefilled auto-injector devices and syringes
- Can be injected through clothing, if needed
- Can be used in pregnant or breastfeeding females who are experiencing severe allergic reactions
Cons
- Must replace it when it expires, even if it isn't used
- Must be stored at room temperature, which can be difficult if you keep this medication in your car during hot or cold weather
- Can cause heart-related side effects (e.g., chest pain, irregular heartbeat)
- Doesn't last very long, so might need to repeat the dose
Pharmacist tips for 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.
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Risks and warnings for Epinephrine (Epipen)
Epinephrine (Epipen) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Emergency medical care
Get medical help right away after you use epinephrine (Epipen), even if you start feeling better. It's best to have a healthcare provider monitor your condition just in case the symptoms come back or if you require additional treatments. Epinephrine (Epipen) can't replace immediate medical attention.
Injection-related problems
Epinephrine (Epipen) is only meant to be injected into the muscle or under the skin of the outer thigh. Don't injected it by any other route or into any other area of the body. Doing so can lead to serious medical problems.
If you're giving epinephrine (Epipen) to a child, try your best to hold the child's leg firmly in place and to prevent them from moving too much or kicking to prevent needle injuries.
Risk of skin infection
Serious skin infections are rare, but can happen after using epinephrine (Epipen). To lower this risk, don't inject this medication into the buttock area. If you notice the epinephrine (Epipen) injection site becomes red, warm, swollen, or tender, seek medical care so you can be tested for an infection and receive treatment, if needed.
Okay to use in people with sulfite allergy
Epinephrine (Epipen) might contain sulfites. But if you're experiencing a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction and have an allergy to sulfites, you should still use epinephrine (Epipen) because it's a life-saving medication.
High blood pressure and heart rate
- Risk factors: Receiving epinephrine (Epipen) through the veins | History of heart problems | Taking medications that affect heart rate or blood pressure
Epinephrine (Epipen) raises blood pressure and heart rate. Let your provider know if you experience any trouble breathing, chest pain, dizziness, changes in vision, or headache. These could be signs that your blood pressure or heart rate is too high and you might need to receive treatment after your allergic reaction is gone.
Epinephrine (Epipen) dosage
The average cost for 1 package of 2 auto-injectors of 0.3mg of Epinephrine (Epipen) is $176.76 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 36.74% off the average retail price of $279.40. 
Package
Package| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 auto-injectors of 0.3mg | 1 package | $176.76 | $176.76 |
Typical dosage for Epinephrine (Epipen)
Your provider will prescribe epinephrine (Epipen) based on your body weight. Epinephrine (Epipen) is available as a prefilled syringe or device that contains a single and complete dose.
You can inject the medication into the muscle or under the skin in the middle of the outer thigh (even through clothing) when you feel an allergic reaction. Call 911. While you're waiting for help to arrive, you can repeat the dose if symptoms don't go away.
- 66 lbs or more: The typical dose is 0.3 mg.
- 33 lbs to 66 lbs: The typical dose is 0.15 mg.
Epinephrine injection is available in multiple brand names (e.g., EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, Symjepi).
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Interactions between Epinephrine (Epipen) and other drugs
Epinephrine (Epipen) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Epinephrine (Epipen). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Dihydroergotamine
- Isocarboxazid
- Linezolid
- Phenelzine
- Tranylcypromine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Amineptine
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amoxapine
- Benperidol
- Bromperidol
- Bucindolol
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Clomipramine
- Desipramine
- Dibenzepin
- Digoxin
- Dilevalol
- Dixyrazine
- Doxepin
- Droperidol
- Entacapone
- Ergonovine
- Fexofenadine
- Fluphenazine
- Furazolidone
- Haloperidol
- Halothane
- Imipramine
- Iobenguane I 123
- Iproniazid
- Levalbuterol
- Levobunolol
- Lofepramine
- Loxapine
- Melitracen
- Melperone
- Methdilazine
- Methotrimeprazine
- Methylene Blue
- Methylergonovine
- Metipranolol
- Metopimazine
- Nadolol
- Nialamide
- Nortriptyline
- Opicapone
- Opipramol
- Oxprenolol
- Penbutolol
- Perazine
- Periciazine
- Perphenazine
- Pindolol
- Pipamperone
- Pipotiazine
- Practolol
- Procarbazine
- Prochlorperazine
- Promazine
- Promethazine
- Propiomazine
- Propranolol
- Protriptyline
- Rasagiline
- Selegiline
- Sotalol
- Terfenadine
- Tertatolol
- Thiethylperazine
- Thioproperazine
- Thioridazine
- Tianeptine
- Timolol
- Trifluoperazine
- Triflupromazine
- Trimipramine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Epinephrine (Epipen) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
What are alternatives to Epinephrine (Epipen)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Epinephrine (Epipen). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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Epinephrine (Epipen) images
