The most important treatment for anaphylaxis is a drug called epinephrine. This is the drug form of a hormone (adrenaline) that the body produces on its own. Doctors recommend that people at risk for anaphylaxis always have an epinephrine auto-injector with them.

This drug helps to reverse symptoms of an allergic reaction by:

• opening the airways
• improving blood pressure
• accelerating heart rate

• EpiPen®
• Twinject®

Both are easy to use and are injected into the muscle on the outer side of the thigh to release the medication.

Weight/Dosage

The 0.30 mg dosage of both the EpiPen® and Twinject® auto-injectors should be used for adults and children weighing 30 kg or more; and the 0.15 mg dosage should be used for children weighing between 15 kg to 30 kg. Individuals or their caregivers should talk with their doctor about the right dosage, including when to switch from the lower dosage to the higher dosage.

Body Position

Depending on how a person is reacting, different body positions are important when giving epinephrine. Keep these in mind if the person is:

• Having difficulty breathing: Keep them in an upright position.
• Feeling faint or dizzy: Place the person on their back with their legs raised above heart level.
• Vomiting: Place the person on their side with their head down.
• Getting worse (but they are conscious and not vomiting): Place the person on their back while waiting to go to the hospital.