Ive broken out in hives a few times and Ive wondered if I needed to use my Epipen. Although hand sanitizer has been shown to be effective in killing germs, its usage might have unintended consequences. Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. Hinterberger JW, Kintzi HE: Phentolamine reversal of epinephrine-induced digital vasospasm. There might even be a bit of a dark spot from the graphite underneath the skin. If you were playing around and happened to inject into your thumb (I have seen that one), you might need to have some emergency treatment due to fracture of or impaling the distal phalanx and concern about vasoconstriction of vessels in the thumb. 'HELP US!!' The practice pen that I had looked almost identical to the real thing. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It's just that there isn't that much lead in the pencil lead, if any (see wikipedia entry below). Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. Ugeskr Laeger. then get accidentally stabbed with it. As expected, none caused an immediate response; however, after 8 hours, the thumb was pink and warm. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Stamina Comfort Inc. What happens if you take an EpiPen without needing it? Allergy-Free Kid Accidentally Injects Himself With EpiPen Tell your doctor if your initial EpiPen injection resulted in a major adverse effect, such as trouble breathing or dangerously high blood pressure, before using it again (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure). I recommend not being weird like me and deciding to stab yourself with your old practice epipen like me, because it might be the real one with a needle and not the practice one. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, works by relaxing the muscles of the airways and constricting the blood vessels -- buying people time to get to the emergency room for treatment. While reading the operating instructions, he attempted to launch the needle but erroneously placed his left thumb over the needle opening. Hi there! These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. However, the surgery proved it was Jackson after Cristina messed up. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Springer Nature. The reason: Children and older adults tend to share needles, which leads to infections that can cause serious heart problems if not treated immediately. How to save an ischemic finger. If you or someone in your family injects an Epipen without needing it,make sure you understand how it will make you feel and the potential adverse effects. What happens if you accidentally inject epinephrine into your thumb? This is why I an paranoid when I take my humera tired. Im sure there are many more hypothetical situations but these are the few I could come up with. 4 What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? Required fields are marked *. Hand. My brother did something similar in middle school cause for some reason he though my epipen was the case for the thermometer. Puncture Wound Care | HealthGuidance.org Do not inject into a muscle because it could cause the patient to go into shock. J Med Case Reports 3, 7268 (2009). Immersion in warm water, application of topical nitroglycerin, and nerve blockade have been attempted without success, although Kaspersen et al. Where To Stab Epipen - BikeHike Can you use an EpiPen if you have high blood pressure? This might reduce blood flow to the affected region. Swing and push the auto-injector firmly until it clicks. The click signals that the injection has started. Sorry there was an error savinig your comment. Formal training should be provided to all health professionals who prescribe or issue epinephrine autoinjectors. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. This may also cause the loss of sensation to the ring and little fingers. Adults and children weighing 30 kilograms (kg) or more0.3 to 0.5 milligram (mg) injected under the skin or into the muscle of your thigh. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You should take special care not to walk through puddles of water when out of doors, otherwise you might get hurt from the electrical current flowing through the ground. 1990, 8: 46-47. If they aren't able to take it back, they can probably point you towards somewhere that you can bring it to for disposal. Five years later at sleep-away camp in New Hampshire, it was . Your injection can be a reason for concern if injected in the hands, feet, or digits. First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. Answer (1 of 6): It depends on where you inject. Thus, those receiving prescriptions for epinephrine autoinjectors should receive similar training. Hi Lace, I have accidentally taken a shot from my EpiPen, I thought it was a used one and was getting rid of my old ones, I do suffer with a Heart Condition, Diabetes, Had two Pulmonary Embolisms, Two Brain Aneurysms and Brain Surgeries, Other Surgeries too many to mention and the list goes on. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The provider orders an injection of a vasodilator to the digit, and documents a diagnosis of "Accidental epinephrine injection to L thumb". Anaphylaxis - Treatment - NHS In this article, Ill share what to do if youve used an Epipen without needing it. Many people don't realize that after using the pen, you still must call 911 and get emergency medical attention, just in case you need back-up treatment. He specializes in orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment, and general surgical procedures. Most cases of anaphylaxis happen quickly and fully resolve after theyre treated. What happens if you inject EpiPen by accident? What should you do I was looking in some cabinets for neosporin when I came across my old epipens. Because epinephrine has a powerful effect of making blood vessels contract, your finger may be at risk of not getting sufficient blood flow to survive. He's a bit younger than you so perhaps they weren't always that way. J Accid Emerg Med. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. Also seek emergency medical attention if you accidentally inject yourself while giving epinephrine to another person. In order for epinephrine to work properly, it must be injected into the thigh muscle. Epi-Pen Accident - Peanut Allergy If the epinephrine is injected by mistake into small areas such as fingers and hands, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. When she didnt respond I said it was an emergency. I decided against it. An ironic side note: An estimated 10% of accidental epinephrine injections occur when healthcare providers demonstrate how to use the injector to their patients! But its important for patients and caregivers to know how to properly work an automatic epinephrine shot. The directions explained it clearly; I was nervous and wasn't paying attention. What happens if you give yourself epinephrine? If you are looking for additional tips on epinephrine at school, we have several additional blog posts you might enjoy: Your email address will not be published. Then you can just throw the case away. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. It will also reduce swelling of the face and respiratory system. This however, is the worst-case scenario. Always call 911 or go to the emergency room after using your EpiPen. In summary, follow the steps below to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to yourself: Carefully remove the auto-injector from its clear carrier tube. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. You may repeat the injection every 5 to 10 minutes as needed. Like other injections that go into the muscle (e.g. The victim will likely experience pain when the wound is being cleaned so if the person is conscious, give her/him a warning. Maybe theyve watched you practice using your Epi or maybe theyve seen the picture instructions on the box. Epinephrine Auto-Injectors: Take Care to Avoid Finger Sticks! - Poison What happens if you inject an EpiPen when you dont need it? If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. PubMed For children and adults who experience anaphylaxis, an epinephrine shot is a matter of life or death. In rare cases, this might result in a serious injury. Hold firmly in place for 3 seconds (count slowly 1, 2, 3). There was full recovery 2 months after the accident. Here are some additional tips to help you avoid self-injury while using your EpiPen: Always follow instructions printed on your medication bottle. Many patients also need more than one dose of epinephrine or other emergency treatments. Aside from this, there are also risks of an accidental injection in and of itself. . Self-administrated shots of epinephrine (often referred to by the brand name EpiPen or epinephrine pen) are life-saving devices which can halt an allergic reaction and give a patient time to get to a hospital.