FAQs

Adrenaline is the treatment of choice for anaphylaxis because it quickly reverses the symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. Adrenaline works by rapidly constricting blood vessels causing a rise in blood pressure, relaxing smooth muscle in the lungs and throat to improve breathing, stimulating the heart beat and reducing swelling around the lips and face.

EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector is designed to deliver the correct dose of adrenaline to reverse an allergic emergency in adults and children over 30kg. EpiPen® Jr (adrenaline) Auto-Injector is for people who weigh between 15kg and 30kg. Your doctor will have taken this and other factors into account when choosing which is the right EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector for you.

The device contains a concealed needle which should be pressed into your outer thigh, through clothes if necessary. Please view the How to Use your EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector section for correct use. You should practice regularly with a training device, you can order a complimentary trainer here.

When you jab the EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector into your thigh you will hear a distinct "click" and afterwards you will be able to see the needle which will be left exposed. There will still be a significant proportion of the medication in the Auto-Injector, this is perfectly normal. Remember EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector can only be used once.

Yes, the EpiPen® Auto-Injector is specifically designed to operate through clothing, even jeans. Take care not to obstruct the needle with anything in your pockets.

You should always seek medical attention after using an EpiPen®. After injection dial 999 or ask someone to do it for you. NB: You should give the used EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector to the ambulance or hospital staff who treat you. Remember, you will need to get a replacement EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector

You should contact your GP surgery, or your pharmacist who will be able to advise you of how to dispose of an out of date EpiPen® /EpiPen® Jr.

You should practice with an EpiPen® training device regularly to familiarise yourself with how to use your EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector in an emergency. You can order an EpiPen® Trainer here. An EpiPen® Trainer is grey in colour and works the same way as an EpiPen® although there is no adrenaline and no needle.

You should make your friends and family aware of what might happen if you were to experience anaphylaxis, it could make the difference in a life threatening allergic emergency. Teach them the signs and symptoms, where you keep your EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector and how to administer your EpiPen® if required. It may be useful to show them the information on this website and to go through the administration of EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector by using a training device.

The bubble is in fact nitrogen and is perfectly normal to find in EpiPen®. You can confidently use your EpiPen® as the bubble will not affect either the medication or the mechanism.

You should be trained by your Doctor or Nurse to recognise the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis. You should not delay using your EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector when you get these symptoms, to do so could be very dangerous. When you have used your EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector you should immediately call 999 and state anaphylaxis and get professional help to you asap.

If you register your expiry date on our Expiry Alert Service we will send you SMS text and/or email reminders to ensure you can visit your doctor in time to replace your EpiPen® prior to the expiry date.

The EpiPen® contains adrenaline. After the expiry date printed on the box and auto-injector the adrenaline may not work as effectively. It is recommended that you contact your GP to arrange replacement of your EpiPen®. You can use our EpiPen® Expiry Alert service to receive a reminder when your EpiPen® is due to expire.

Adrenaline can be affected by heat and direct sunlight. For this reason, always store away from any extremes of temperature and direct sunlight in the outer carton provided. Do not store above 25°C. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Hard cases are available to order which may be particularly useful for children or where the EpiPen® (adrenaline) Auto-Injector may receive rough handling.

Make sure that you have sufficient EpiPen® Auto-Injectors with you, remember that it may be difficult and expensive to replace any you use while abroad. You should organise this with your GP several weeks before. Airlines will often require a letter from your doctor to allow you to carry your EpiPen® Auto-Injector with you on board an aircraft. You should check with the airline or travel agent before you book your holiday what restrictions are in place and explain your allergy requirements. Download our Translation sheets which have access to a number of useful foreign phrases for people who suffer with severe allergy, e.g. “I am allergic to peanuts”, these are available as sheets which you can download and printed off to take with you when you go abroad.

EpiPen® /EpiPen® Jr. is a product that is sold throughout the world and as such it is used by patients in a variety of climates that are very different to the climate of the UK. However when travelling to such different climates you should take the same care as you would in the UK, do not to leave the EpiPen® /EpiPen®® Jr. exposed to direct sunlight or extreme heat or cold for a prolonged period. The EpiPen® /EpiPen® Jr. should not be refrigerated or frozen. EpiPen® /EpiPen® Jr. Auto-Injectors should always be stored in the tube provided.

You can download replacements here