I try so hard to keep it together. What happens if you give yourself epinephrine? If the epinephrine is injected by mistake into small areas such as fingers and hands, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. I used my first EpiPen at the age of 7, after eating chocolate cake at a restaurant, sliced with the same knife used on a walnut cake. Am J Emerg Med. I used to make jokes and wonder how someone could "accidentally" give themselves an epinephrine shot -- until it happened to us. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In this article, Ill share what to do if youve used an Epipen without needing it. The sharp sting will hurt but lasts less than 10 seconds. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Its use is limited by adverse side effects such as hypotension and tachycardia, requiring adequate pre-hydration. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. 6 What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? They will advise you on next steps to ensure your safety. This is important to know if you normally have high blood pressure, Cupboard/First Aid Kit Away From Children And Pets, Away From Sun (in the dark) But Not Refrigerated, You might feel antsy for a few hours afterward. What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. For those of you who don't know, an Epipen is a crazy large needle carried by people with food allergies in the event they eat a peanut or something. All are serious errors that can delay or prevent getting someone the epinephrine necessary to stop a reaction. Help. Epipens are a key part of having allergies and they are used at our most vulnerable times. Peripheral perfusion is restored usually in less than 5 minutes. The intravenous alpha-blocker phentolamine was not prescribed. Next, aim for the middle of the outer thigh, holding it at a right angle to the thigh. In summary, follow the steps below to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to yourself: Carefully remove the auto-injector from its clear carrier tube. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 What are the symptoms of an accidental epinephrine injection? Some inks may cause soreness in the mouth. J Med Case Reports 3, 7268 (2009). In the case of a deep cut to the palm, the ulnar nerve may be injured and result in paralysis of the intrinsic muscles to the hand. Are you in danger of lead poisoning? Hi Geraldine, What happens if you stab someone with an EpiPen? Avoid rubbing your face with dried out hands; this can lead to more problems down the road. How can you prevent yourself from sticking yourself with an EpiPen? Learn how we can help. Philippe Staeger. Cite this article. If bleeding occurs from the wound, cover with a gauze or towel and apply firm direct pressure without letting go for 5 full minutes by the clock. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. Hold the leg of young children firmly in place before and during injection to prevent injuries. Hi Lace, What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". When to seek help You should always seek prompt medical attention if you cut yourself and observe any of the following: you cant stop the bleeding. He specializes in orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment, and general surgical procedures. The content you are trying to access is intended for healthcare professionals only. Always wear protective gear when giving injections, and never give an injection in the back of the neck or anywhere near the heart. What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? Several approaches were proposed: metacarpal nerve block or digital block with local lidocaine to induce an inhibition of sympathetic afferents to the digit; and topical nitroglycerin, systemic vasodilators, and warming by immersion in water to increase the blood flow supplying the digit. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, 30 yr sufferer-most foods and environmental allergens. J Accid Emerg Med. However, the surgery proved it was Jackson after Cristina messed up. Aside from this, there are also risks of an accidental injection in and of itself. WALTHAM, Massachusetts -- Some scary moments unfolded after an 11-year-old accidentally stabbed himself with a real EpiPen during a health class lesson. Flush splashes of blood and needle contents on other parts of your body with water. Make sure you alert someone around you. Dr. Yash Khanna answered. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. She, at that point, thought I had found something wrong with my newly dyed hair. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This however, is the worst-case scenario. 8 What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? Mathez, C., Favrat, B. My brother did something similar in middle school cause for some reason he though my epipen was the case for the thermometer. What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. You should always be checked out at the ER after using your EpiPen. My son, 10 yrs. 9 What happens if you accidentally inject epinephrine into your thumb? Each EpiPen Auto-Injector contains 0.3 mL of a 1:1000 epinephrine solution for injection. He unintentionally injected the adrenaline into the tip of his thumb. People who accidentally shoot themselves in the leg will usually be able to walk away from it. 1992, 10: 496-10.1016/0736-4679(92)90285-2. Hi Alice, WALTHAM, Massachusetts -- Some scary moments unfolded after an 11-year-old accidentally stabbed himself with a real EpiPen during a health class lesson. If you handle electric shock devices without thinking about what you're doing, you could be risking serious injury. He accidentally discharged the contents of the spring-loaded syringe into his thumb; and the needle was twisted into the distal tip of his finger. In the event of an unintentional injection, seek medical care right away. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Finally, wash your hands after using the restroom; this is where you're likely to spread germs. In the process, she stabbed Alex's hand and injected him with the drug. It does not store any personal data. Why you should go to the emergency room after using the EpiPen. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. I ended up stabbing myself (accidentally) in the soft fleshy pad of my thumb, about 1" from the end. This event also highlights the importance for all doctors to gain quick access to information in the case of unusual presentation. If the wound was left open or if stitches were used, clean the wound daily: If surgical tape was used, keep the area clean and dry. Treatment included topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators and warming of the thumb. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Correspondence to This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Teaching your child about social distancing. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. Find everything you need to know about Epinephrine Injection (Auvi-Q), including what it is used for, warnings, reviews, side effects, and interactions. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. You'll feel a rush of energy. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. California Privacy Statement, I decided to try the practice one I knew was in the case. My three-year-old son once found an EpiPen on the counter and thought it was the practice EpiPen that we allow him to play with. This could lead to a heart attack. This is why I an paranoid when I take my humera tired. What experience do you need to become a teacher? It's painful so I cant type that much. By using this website, you agree to our Thus far Ive been lucky. Zucker G: Use of phentolamine to prevent necrosis due to levarterenol. Ive also wondered what happens if you use an Epipen without needing it. Dispose of any used needles/syringes in a safe manner. McGovern SJ: Treatment of accidental digital injection of adrenaline from an auto-injector device. 10.1136/emj.2003.005462. Family Medicine 58 years experience. 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. The school district said it is investigating the incident and are reviewing school-wide procedures to make sure something similar does not happen again. What happens if you stab your finger with an EpiPen? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. you should have gone to the e.r. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Patients who have an acute allergic reaction can immediately inject epinephrine with them, reversing peripheral vasodilation, edema, constriction of the airways, and myocardial depression. 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. Or just take reactants. Dr. Alvin Lin answered. A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). As expected, none caused an immediate response; however, after 8 hours, the thumb was pink and warm. The greatest risk of an accidental or an incorrect injection is that injecting the epinephrine elsewhere can delay or impair the effectiveness during a time-critical emergency. 10.1007/s11552-006-9012-4. the cut is deep or exposes subcutaneous tissue. If your Epipen was used by you or a family member on accident make sure its stored in the correct place. PubMed 5 What happens if you get stuck with an EpiPen and dont need it? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Kids are observant. Many people dont 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 complained of pain and paresthesia in the thumb. 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. Wow, great example of how being under pressure can make simple instructions and tasks more difficult. No do not worry: Nothing will happen, just your heart may start beating faster for few minutes and than back to normal. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. You may also consider using EpiPen while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. We report a physician who accidentally injected epinephrine into his thumb while handling an autoinjector, and the results of reviewing the literature. So we told him "Well, don't hit yourself so hard with it, honey!" and chuckled. I have officially learned my lesson and will never do anything like this again. Hinterberger JW, Kintzi HE: Phentolamine reversal of epinephrine-induced digital vasospasm. . Many pharmacies aren't licenced to take back medications for disposal. Your blood pressure will rise. 2004, 21: 387-388. Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. So basically, as your throat is closing from the allergic reaction, you're supposed to take the . Ive battled environmental allergies for years and I always carry an Epipen with me. If the wound was left open or if stitches were used, clean the wound daily: If surgical tape was used, keep the area clean and dry. In the emergency room, his thumb was cold and pale. Your blood pressure will rise. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The chance of serious injury from an accidental injection increases if you're under age 10 or over 70.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'staminacomfort_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-staminacomfort_com-medrectangle-3-0'); In fact, research shows that people who accidentally inject themselves are about three times more likely to suffer a severe reaction than are adults who intentionally inject themselves. Department of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine, University of Lausanne, Bugnon 44, 1011, Lausanne-CHUV, Switzerland, Christian Mathez,Bernard Favrat&Philippe Staeger, You can also search for this author in Epinephrine autoinjector devices are used with increasing frequency to treat severe anaphylactic reactions. Hopefully, you can remain calm, notify people in the immediate vicinity, and seek medical advice quickly. Make sure to wash your hands after administering an epinephrine injection. If you are unsure when would be appropriate time to administer your EpiPen, please contact your allergist or the EpiPen prescriber. If I did have trouble breathing, felt my mouth/throat swelling, or felt an abnormal amount of warmness due to allergy exposure Id absolutely use my Epipen but sometimes its hard to gauge how serious the symptoms are.