epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector
Authorized generic of Adrenaclick
The patient, and caregiver, if possible, should read this information carefully before using epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector (referred to throughout as epinephrine auto-injector). You must know how to use epinephrine auto-injector before you have an emergency. This information contains additional details beyond the quick-reference instructions on the epinephrine auto-injector label. This information does not replace talking with your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about epinephrine auto-injector?
Use epinephrine auto-injector and go to your doctor or emergency room right away for more medical treatment.
- Epinephrine, the active ingredient in epinephrine auto-injector helps treat life-threatening allergic reactions.
- Make sure to tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and allergies.
- Always get medical treatment right away after using epinephrine auto-injector.
Since you cannot predict when a life-threatening allergic reaction will occur, carry epinephrine auto-injector with you at all times.
Look at the medicine in your epinephrine auto-injector regularly. If it looks cloudy (has particles in it), is discolored, or if the expiration date has passed, the epinephrine auto-injector should be replaced.
After administration, liquid will remain in the auto-injector that can't be used and should be discarded with the auto-injector as outlined in this Patient Information Leaflet.
What is epinephrine auto-injector?
Epinephrine auto-injector is an emergency injection ("shot") of epinephrine. It is a medicine used for life-threatening allergic reactions such as severe swelling, breathing problems, or loss of blood pressure. Allergic reactions can be caused by stinging and biting insects (bugs), allergy injections, food, medicines, exercise, or unknown causes.
Life-threatening allergic reactions may show up as closing of your breathing airways, wheezing, sneezing, hoarseness, hives, itching, swelling, skin redness, fast heartbeat, weak pulse, feeling very anxious, confusion, stomach pain, losing control of urine or bowel movements (incontinence), faintness, or "passing out" (unconsciousness).
- Epinephrine auto-injector 0.15mg is for patients who weigh 33-66 pounds (15-30 kg).
- Epinephrine auto-injector 0.3mg is for patients who weigh 66 pounds (30 kg) or greater.
- Use of epinephrine auto-injector must be followed by emergency medical care.
- Each epinephrine auto-injector unit contains a single dose of epinephrine.
Who should not use epinephrine auto-injector?
There are no absolute contraindications to the use of epinephrine auto-injector in a life-threatening allergic reaction. People with certain medical conditions have a higher chance of getting serious side effects from epinephrine auto-injector.
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, but especially if you:
- have heart disease or high blood pressure
- have diabetes
- have thyroid conditions
- have asthma
- have depression or other mental disease
- have Parkinson's disease
- are pregnant
- are allergic to any of the ingredients in epinephrine auto-injector
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Some medicines may cause serious side effects if taken while you use epinephrine auto-injector. Some medicines may affect how epinephrine auto-injector works, or epinephrine auto-injector may affect how your other medicines work. Diabetic patients may need to adjust the dose of their diabetes medicines or insulin after using epinephrine auto-injector.
How should I use epinephrine auto-injector?
- Do NOT remove the gray caps until you are ready to use.
- Never put thumb, fingers, or hand over the red tip. The needle comes out of the red tip. Accidental injection into hand or feet may result in the loss of blood flow to these areas. If this happens, go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
- Hold epinephrine auto-injector in the thigh while slowly counting to 10 to make sure all medicine is delivered.
- Inject epinephrine auto-injector only into the middle of the outer side of your thigh (upper leg).
What should I avoid while using epinephrine auto-injector?
- Avoid injecting epinephrine auto-injector into your buttock or any other part of your body, other than the middle of the outer side of your thigh (upper leg).
- Avoid injecting epinephrine auto-injector into a vein.
What are the possible side effects of epinephrine auto-injector?
Too much epinephrine (epinephrine auto-injector) can cause dangerously high blood pressure, stroke, or death.
If you take certain medicines, you may develop serious life-threatening side effects from the epinephrine in epinephrine auto-injector. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, especially medicines for asthma.
Patients with certain medical conditions, or who take certain medicines, may get more side effects from epinephrine auto-injector, or the side effects may last longer. This includes patients who take certain types of medicines for asthma, allergies, depression, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Patients with heart disease may feel chest pain (angina). Patients with mental disease or Parkinson's disease may have worsening symptoms of their illness. Epinephrine auto-injector (epinephrine) can cause the following reactions. Some reactions can be serious. They usually go away with rest.
Common side effects of epinephrine auto-injector include:
- faster, irregular (wrong) or 'pounding' heartbeat
- throbbing headache
- paleness
- feelings of over excitement, anxiety, or fear
- weakness or shakiness
- dizziness
- nausea and vomiting
- sweating
These are not all the possible side effects of epinephrine auto-injector. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How should I store epinephrine auto-injector?
The medicine in epinephrine auto-injector can be damaged by light. Therefore, keep it in the protective carrying case provided. Keep it at room temperature and protect it from freezing. Do not refrigerate.
Keep epinephrine auto-injector with you at all times.
Check your epinephrine auto-injector regularly to be sure:
- it has not expired
- the medicine in epinephrine auto-injector is not cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it.
Replace the epinephrine auto-injector if needed.
General information about the safe and effective use of epinephrine auto-injector.
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not use epinephrine auto-injector for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give epinephrine auto-injector to other people, even if they have the same symptons you have. It may harm them.
This leaflet summarizes the most important information about epinephrine auto-injector. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about epinephrine auto-injector that is written for health professionals.
Rx only
GREENSTONE® BRAND
Distributed by:
Greenstone LLC
Peapack, NJ 07977
Printed in U.S.A.
71007-01
Repackaged by:
Rebel Distributors Corp
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320