Epipen (Epinephrine Auto Injector) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 9, 2012

Epipen

Bee and Wasp Sting »

Insect stings overview

Bee and wasp stings are common causes of medical problems. Bees and wasps, together with fire ants, are all related insects that belong to the Hymenoptera order. Bee and wasp stings can cause significant reactions, ranging from localized pain and swelling to serious and even potentially fatal conditions. At least 40 deaths occur each year in the U.S. as a result of bee or wasp stings.

What are the types of wasps?

There are over 25,000 species of wasps found throughout the world. Some of the most common wasps include:

The yellow jacket and hornet, both of which live in groups, or colonies, in temperate climates.
Yellow jackets, which have black and yellow stripes on the abdomen, form underground nests.
Hornets are predominantly black with some yellow markings on the head and thorax. Hornets form paper-like nests that are attached to trees, bush...

Read the Bee and Wasp Sting article »

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Epipen

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EPIPEN®
(epinephrine) Auto-Injector 0.3 mg
EpiPen® = one dose of 0.30 mg epinephrine (USP, 1:1000, 0.3 mL)

EPIPEN® JR
(epinephrine) Auto-Injector 0.15 mg
EpiPen® Jr = one dose of 0.15 mg epinephrine (USP, 1:2000, 0.3 mL)

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Each EpiPen® Auto-Injector delivers a single dose of 0.3 mg epinephrine injection, USP, 1:1000 (0.3 mL) in a sterile solution.

Each EpiPen (epinephrine auto injector) ® Jr Auto-Injector delivers a single dose of 0.15 mg epinephrine injection, USP, 1:2000 (0.3 mL) in a sterile solution.

The EpiPen® and EpiPen® Jr Auto-Injectors each contain 2 mL epinephrine solution. Approximately 1.7 mL remains in the auto-injector after activation and cannot be used.

Each 0.3 mL in the EpiPen® Auto-Injector contains 0.3 mg epinephrine, 1.8 mg sodium chloride, 0.5 mg sodium metabisulfite, hydrochloric acid to adjust pH, and Water for Injection. The pH range is 2.2-5.0.

Each 0.3 mL in the EpiPen® Jr Auto-Injector contains 0.15 mg epinephrine, 1.8 mg sodium chloride, 0.5 mg sodium metabisulfite, hydrochloric acid to adjust pH, and Water for Injection. The pH range is 2.2-5.0.

Epinephrine is a sympathomimetic catecholamine. Chemically, epinephrine is B-(3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl)-a-methyl-aminoethanol, with the following structure:

EPIPEN®
(epinephrine) Structural Formula Illustration

Epinephrine solution deteriorates rapidly on exposure to air or light, turning pink from oxidation to adrenochrome and brown from the formation of melanin. Replace EpiPen® and EpiPen® Jr Auto-Injectors if the epinephrine solution appears discolored.

EpiPen® (epinephrine auto injector) and EpiPen® (epinephrine auto injector) Jr Auto-Injectors do not contain latex.

What are the possible side effects of epinephrine ?

Before using epinephrine a second time, tell your doctor if your first injection caused a serious side effect such as increased breathing difficulty, or dangerously high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure).

Less serious side effects may include:

fast, pounding, or uneven heatbeats;
sweating;
nausea and vomiting;
pale skin;
dizziness;
weakness or tremors;

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Epipen »

What are the precautions when taking epinephrine auto injector (Epipen)?

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This product may contain sulfites. However, if you have a sulfite allergy, this should not be a reason for avoiding use of this medication during an emergency. Since epinephrine can be life-saving, using it is more important than avoiding any sulfite-related problems you may experience.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart conditions (e.g., coronary artery disease, arrhythmias), high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes.

This drug...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 7/6/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.