Medication features
EpiPen is an injectable treatment for severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. It contains adrenaline, and is designed to be administered as an emergency treatment for life threatening anaphylactic reactions.
- For emergency use only
- Acts quickly to treat allergic reactions
- EpiPen Auto-Injector provides life-saving emergency treatments for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).
Overview
Buy EpiPen Online UK
EpiPen 0.3mg Auto Injector can be ordered from our UK registered online prescribing service. Simply complete an online medical questionnaire as part of your order. This helps our prescribers make sure it is safe and suitable to prescribe for you.
If approved by our medical team, our pharmacy team will receive a prescription. This will be dispensed and dispatched to your delivery address. Only people currently prescribed this by their GP can request this medicine.
You can sign up for the EpiPen expiry alert service to make sure that you get notified before your injector(s) expire.
What Is an EpiPen and What Is It Used For?
An EpiPen is an auto-injectable device that delivers the drug epinephrine in quick succession. Generically, the device is known as an Epinephrine Auto-Injector. However, EpiPen is the more familiar brand name.
An EpiPen auto-injector is used for the emergency treatment of an allergic reaction. The drug epinephrine is a life-saving medication. It acts on the entire body to block the progression of the allergic response. This medication is used to treat serious allergic reactions to:
- Foods such as nuts, milk, fish, eggs, etc.
- Medicines such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.
- Insect stings and bites - particularly bee and wasp stings
- Other substances
A severe allergic reaction, known as Anaphylaxis, develops suddenly and can progress quickly. Once the EpiPen is administered, it works rapidly to constrict the blood vessels, leading to increased blood pressure. The muscles around the airways relax, causing the lungs to open, which helps the individual to breathe again.
As well as easing the symptoms of the allergic reaction, epinephrine also prevents the release of more allergic chemicals, stopping the progression of the allergic response.
How Does an EpiPen Work?
Each auto-injector contains a single dose of the medicine. Before using your EpiPen, you should have received the appropriate training to use your EpiPen auto-injector correctly. As well as knowing how to use the pen for yourself, close friends, family members, and work colleagues should also have trained so they can administer the EpiPen if you are unable to do so yourself.
Take the time to regularly familiarise yourself with your EpiPens instructions. If you are ever unsure of how to use your EpiPen auto-injector, then you should consult with your doctor as soon as possible. Never use your EpiPen if you are unsure, as this could be a threat to your health. You should also carry two Epipens with you at all times.
When To Use an EpiPen
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms related to Anaphylaxis you should use your EpiPen auto-injector immediately. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency. Failure to treat it quickly could result in a serious health problem. For some, it can even result in death.
If someone has Anaphylaxis symptoms, you should use their EpiPen immediately and make sure they lay down and stay still whilst you wait for an ambulance. It is also important to remove the trigger of the reaction if possible.
Symptoms of Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is an emergency situation. The symptoms of this reaction come on quickly, and they can worsen at a rapid rate if not treated immediately. There are many symptoms of Anaphylaxis, and anyone suffering from a reaction can experience several of them.
Everyone will react differently, so it is important to familiarise yourself with these symptoms so you know what to look out for. Symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the lips, face, and throat
- Wheezing or a hoarse voice
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hives and itching
- Pale or clammy skin
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Low blood pressure
- Fainting or collapsing
EpiPen For Children
There are some precautions you should take when administering an EpiPen for a child. It is important to ensure that they are comfortable and understand that the EpiPen is good for their health.
It is important that you keep their leg still before administering the injection. Hold the EpiPen auto-injector in your fist and avoid touching the end of it. Once their leg is still, hold onto their knee to keep it in place before administering the injection.
Anapen vs EpiPen
An Anapen is another brand of auto-injector. Like an EpiPen, it is used for the emergency treatment of Anaphylaxis. The main difference between these two auto-injectors is how they are administered.
An Anapen has a substantially different administration technique to an EpiPen. It is crucial that you acquire specific training on how to use it safely. The Anapen is triggered by pressing a red button with your thumb. To avoid confusion, most doctors will only prescribe you one brand instead of mixing them.
Jext vs EpiPen
Like an Anapen, Jext is also used differently from an EpiPen. You hold the injector at a right angle to the thigh. Once you push the tip into your outer thigh, you will hear a “click” confirming the injection has started. You must keep it pushed in for ten seconds, then remove it. The tip then extends automatically, hiding the needle.
Can I Buy an EpiPen Over the Counter in the UK?
EpiPens are only available over the counter in the UK if you have been issued a prescription from your doctor. You must also have been shown how to use an EpiPen auto-injector and have a history of anaphylactic shock. If you feel you need an EpiPen, then you must make an appointment with your doctor so they can assess your condition.
Cloud Pharmacy makes the process of buying an EpiPen auto-injector online simple. Following a short online consultation, one of our trained pharmacists will prescribe and dispatch your EpiPen which you will receive in a discreet package.
EpiPen Summary
Ingredient | Adrenaline |
Injection Site | Outer Thigh |
Price | £74.99 |
Use | Treats anaphylaxis |
Side Effects
EpiPen Side Effects
Like most medications, there are some side effects associated with an EpiPen auto-injector. The most common include:
- Fast/pounding heartbeat
- Nervousness
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Trouble breathing
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Shakiness
- Pale skin
There may be some instances where more serious side effects can occur, like:
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Vision changes
- Seizures
If you experience any of these side effects from using your EpiPen, then you must inform your doctor immediately.
If you have any more questions regarding EpiPens, you can contact one of our expert pharmacists here at Cloud Pharmacy.
Patient Information Leaflet
Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us:
Directions
How To Use an EpiPen
There are several steps that you need to take in order to administer an EpiPen auto-injector for yourself. Before you use it, you should ensure that the blue safety release isn't raised and that the device isn't difficult to slide out of its carrying case.
Firstly, you must carefully remove the EpiPen from its clear carrier tube. Grip the barrel of the EpiPen in your dominant hand, so the orange tip points downwards. Ensure that your fingers are not close to either end of the EpiPen. Remove the blue safety cap by pulling straight up, not sideways. Then, firmly inject the orange tip of the EpiPen into the middle part of your upper thigh, pushing it until you hear a “click” noise.
Hold the EpiPen in place for three seconds before removing it from your thigh. Then, use your fingers to gently massage the area for ten seconds. You must seek emergency care as soon as possible. Your EpiPen auto-injector can be administered through clothes if you feel it is necessary.
How Long Does an EpiPen Take To Work?
Typically, the EpiPen will start to work immediately. Symptoms such as wheezing and difficulty breathing should improve within minutes of the EpiPen is administered. The effects of the EpiPen will start to wear off after around 10 to 20 minutes.
If the symptoms are not easing, then you will need to immediately administer a second dose. It is important to note that other symptoms may take longer to ease. For example, rashes, swelling, and abdominal pain can take longer to go away. You should always call for emergency medical help as soon as possible.
EpiPen Auto Injector Reviews
Confirm EpiPen Auto Injector treatment selection
0.3mg | 1 | £74.99 |
0.3mg | 2 | £139.99 |