English Transcript
Allergist Aikaterini Anagnostou, MD: In previous years, our guidance was that anybody who uses epinephrine to treat their allergic reaction anaphylaxis usually will have to call 911. This has now changed. The 2023 anaphylaxis parameter is actually offering patients the option to treat their anaphylaxis at home provided that certain criteria are fulfilled.
So you need to have at least two doses of your epinephrine with you if you decide to treat your reaction and stay at home. This is because symptoms can worsen in which case you will need a second dose, and in that case you need to call 911.
Other criteria that need to be fulfilled is having a person around to help you in case symptoms worsen and also being familiar with how to use your epinephrine device and being able to realize if symptoms change and become worse.
So for patients whose symptoms resolve very quickly after the first administration of epinephrine, they don’t necessarily need to call 911. But if they’re uncomfortable in any way or if symptoms worsen or there’s no one around to help or there are no available second doses of the epinephrine, then you still need to call 911.
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Resource Type: Video | Asthma, Asthma & Breathing Problems, Asthma Treatment, Epinephrine
