Safety of epinephrine for anaphylaxis in the emergency setting

BACKGROUND:While epinephrine is the recommended first-line therapy for the reversal of anaphylaxis symptoms,inappropriate use persists because of misunderstandings about proper dosing and administration or misconceptions about its safety.The objective of this review was to evaluate the safety of epi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:World journal of emergency medicine 2013, Vol.4 (4), p.245-251
Main Authors: Wood, Joseph P, Traub, Stephen J, Lipinski, Christopher
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Airway management
Anaphylaxis
Asthma
Drug dosages
Emergency medical care
Food allergies
Heart attacks
Immunology
Patients
Pediatrics
Review
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Summary:BACKGROUND:While epinephrine is the recommended first-line therapy for the reversal of anaphylaxis symptoms,inappropriate use persists because of misunderstandings about proper dosing and administration or misconceptions about its safety.The objective of this review was to evaluate the safety of epinephrine for patients with anaphylaxis,including other emergent conditions,treated in emergency care settings.METHODS:A MEDLINE search using PubMed was conducted to identify articles that discuss the dosing,administration,and safety of epinephrine in the emergency setting for anaphylaxis and other conditions.RESULTS:Epinephrine is safe for anaphylaxis when given at the correct dose by intramuscular injection.The majority of dosing errors and cardiovascular adverse reactions occur when epinephrine is given intravenously or incorrectly dosed.CONCLUSION:Epinephrine by intramuscular injection is a safe therapy for anaphylaxis but training may still be necessary in emergency care settings to minimize drug dosing and administration errors and to allay concerns about its safety.
ISSN:1920-8642
DOI:10.5847/wjem.j.issn.1920-8642.2013.04.001