After 20-30 minutes the blotchiness has faded and my leg felt a bit better. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 'HELP US!!' Why you should go to the emergency room after using the EpiPen. Google Scholar. Help. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. How long does a shock last in the human body? But holding it for 10 seconds is appropriate in all cases, and it may easier to remember.). 1992, 10: 496-10.1016/0736-4679(92)90285-2. Just how much does an EpiPen hurt? The sharp sting will hurt but lasts less than 10 seconds. do not scrub the wound while you're washing it. CM, PS and BF have made substantial contributions to conception, design, writing the manuscript and literature review. If you do happen to get hit by a shock wave, try not to touch anything with metal objects inside it because you don't want those charges to go somewhere else. No need to use antiseptics or disinfectants. What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? Dr. Alvin Lin answered. Find everything you need to know about Epinephrine Injection (Auvi-Q), including what it is used for, warnings, reviews, side effects, and interactions. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The idea is "blue to the sky". Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not because it hurt but because it felt different than normal. Then you can just throw the case away. 10.1136/emj.2003.005462. Delayed capillary refill of the left thumb after accidental injection of epinephrine. Plast Reconstr Surg. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I decided to try the practice one I knew was in the case. (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. What I stabbed myself with. Ive mixed up my Epipen and trainer before but Ive always figured out which is which. Required fields are marked *. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. While injecting the epinephrine, count to ten. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This can reduce blood flow to the area. Dr. Yash Khanna answered. The epi-pen was expired, therefore, he thought the needle would not come out. Once injected epinephrine will: Enhance your breathing, quicken your heart, and raise blood pressure. It can also be harmful if consumed or goes into your eyes. Flush splashes of blood and needle contents on other parts of your body with water. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( A regimen for management of accidental epinephrine injection, in particular the use of phentolamine, should be emphasized. "Omigod, Darrel - this isn't the practice pen - this is a REAL Epi-pen!" I shouted. For about ten seconds. This can decrease blood flow to the area. 2004, 21: 387-388. What to do. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. After injecting an EpiPen, hearing a click lets you know it worked. For those of you who don't know, an Epipen is a crazy large needle carried by people with food allergies in the event they eat a peanut or something. Accidental injection, usually involving a finger, is a potential complication. It does not store any personal data. You will need to receive further treatment and observation. (I may earn a small commission on the products linked to in this post.). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, 30 yr sufferer-most foods and environmental allergens. But its important for patients and caregivers to know how to properly work an automatic epinephrine shot. Mix of 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of salt to 1 cup of warm water. 3 What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? 1997, 14: 379-380. However, you don't want to be washing your hands with them constantly because the concentration decreases rapidly with time. Talk to your health provider to see if Neocate is right for you. Fresh, clean water is best if there is no saline on-hand. EpiPen has several resources to teach patients about the proper use of epinephrine shots. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. 1990, 8: 46-47. What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? I recently accidentally stabbed myself in the leg with my old and expired epipen. Contrary to popular belief, the EpiPen injection can be delivered through clothing. Keep all medications in a safe place where children cannot reach them. 5 Should you go to ER after using EpiPen? Talk with your doctor about how you can best control symptoms of your illness. Elevated heart rate and/or heart palpations. Can you use an EpiPen if you have high blood pressure? This is not necessary with hand sanitizer since it does not spread via contact with other objects, but it will help prevent spreading disease if you come in contact with poo or vomit for example. Troy Madsen settles your childhood fears about pencil-related injuries. The recent energy lasted about 3 hours overall. What to do if you accidentally stab yourself in the hand? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. How to save an ischemic finger. Because epinephrine has a powerful effect of making blood vessels contract, your finger may be at risk of not getting sufficient blood flow to survive. May described his son as turning bright red in color, and said he was sweating profusely by the time he arrived at the hospital. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Arch Fam Med. It does not store any personal data. An accidental intravenous injection (which is very rare and would be fairly difficult to do on accident), is especially dangerous and can lead to hypertension and/or heart problems[1]. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. 2007, 2: 5-11. My wife accidentally stuck her finger and now its white, cold, numb and wrinkly like she just got out of the tub but refuses to seek medical attention. If the contents of the needle splashed to nose, mouth, face or other skin areas, wash them well with soap. It's painful so I cant type that much. I called my moms best friend who is an ER nurse and she said as long as thats the only symptoms I have and I dont feel any different I would be okay. What happens if you inject an EpiPen by accident? The sharp sting will hurt but lasts less than 10 seconds. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. A 31-year-old physician in a Family Practice training program at an academic primary care center was handling an Epipen because he wanted to be familiar with it before prescribing it. What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? Mehr S, Robinson M, Tang M: Doctor - how do I use my EpiPen?. She, at that point, thought I had found something wrong with my newly dyed hair. This however, is the worst-case scenario. The entire digit was cool and pale, and a prolonged capillary refill time was seen at more than 10 s (Figure 1). 2023 Nutricia North America. A delay in administering epinephrine can be life threatening. Learn how we can help. In this article, Ill share what to do if youve used an Epipen without needing it. What happens if you stick yourself with an EpiPen accidentally? Your automatic instinct is to flinch or hold back to spare yourself the pain. I havent had to use mine, however, I still carry around the expensive auto-injector. Never reuse needles/syringes that have been used for injecting insulin or other medications. volume3, Articlenumber:7268 (2009) First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. A Florida woman woke her sister up by drunkenly stabbing her with an EpiPen Thursday night, then explained to police that she's "allergic to drunks," WBBH reports. This may cause the real yellow EpiPen or real green EpiPen Jr auto-injector to accidentally activate. 4 What happens if you stab a nerve in your hand? The content you are trying to access is intended for healthcare professionals only. Use them safely to prevent finger sticks. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include temporary numbness or tingling, pain and swelling at the injection site, elevated heart rate and/or heart palpations. Call them and ask before you go down there. Doctors say that you should never wear clothes that conduct electricity because it's like wearing a fuse box under your shirt. Ive broken out in hives a few times and Ive wondered if I needed to use my Epipen. Wash it. What are the symptoms of an accidental epinephrine injection? Little electric shocks can cause injury or disease if you come into contact with them directly. Feels kind of sore where the stab wound is. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. You should always be checked out at the ER after using your EpiPen. Always call 911 or go to the emergency room after using your EpiPen. Once injected epinephrine will: According to instructions, you should inject yourself in the upper thigh, however, mistakes are made. If epinephrine is accidentally injected into tiny locations such as the fingers and hands, blood vessels constrict at the site of injection. You might feel anxious. Exapno_Mapcase April 19, 2008, 9:02pm #5. An unintentional injection into the hands or feet might reduce blood supply to these tissues, potentially resulting in tissue death. 2005, 115: 1800-1801. You may also consider using EpiPen while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The students were thought to be given trainer versions of the EpiPens without any of the actual drug inside, but there was a mix-up in the case of May's son, WCVB reports. It will also reduce swelling of the face and respiratory system. An ironic side note: An estimated 10% of accidental epinephrine injections occur when healthcare providers demonstrate how to use the injector to their patients! After 8 hours, the entire finger was pink and warm, either because of the decreasing effect of epinephrine after 90 minutes [2], or because of the delayed effect of the attempted treatment. 10.1097/00006534-200107000-00017. Accidental injection, usually involving a finger, is a potential complication. Five years later at sleep-away camp in New Hampshire, it was . Chris May's son and fellow students at . The rate of accidental injection of epinephrine from autoinjectors has increased worldwide. "Somehow he, when he reached into the batch, got a hold of a real, live EpiPen, and used it -- like everyone else -- and stuck it into his thigh.". These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Implicit in epinephrine autoinjector prescriptions is that physicians and pharmacists are confident that the patient or a relative can adequately use the device, and that the patient is aware of the potential dangers of incorrect administration. If you don't understand any of the instructions, ask your pharmacist for help. So we told him "Well, don't hit yourself so hard with it, honey!" and chuckled. Velissariou et al. A mix-up during health class left a 11-year-old boy in a Massachusetts hospital after he accidentally stabbed himself with a real EpiPen. What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This however, is the worst-case scenario. wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". No do not worry: Nothing will happen, just your heart may start beating faster for few minutes and than back to normal. Epinephrine increases blood pressure and can trigger heart arrhythmias, strokes, and heart attacks. Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. I accidentally injected myself today in the thumb while administering to an adolescent who had shock after school at an event. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. Even if you do inject yourself, youll still need to get to an emergency room. If the finger is looking white, this would warrant going to an . The effects of epinephrine may wear off after 10 or 20 minutes. Do you have to go to the hospital if you use an EpiPen? Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: Regardless, you should always seek medical attention in the event of an accidental injection; its better safe than sorry! Plast Reconstr Surg. Up to 16% of tested doctors who read the instructions on the Epipen device self-injected the Epipen trainer into their thumb. On the other hand, i think it's more likely to develop an . Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. People who accidentally shoot themselves in the leg will usually be able to walk away from it. Greene AK: Management of epinephrine injection injury to the digit. However, I was still feeling very energized. What if you make a strange mistake and accidently use the Epipen without needing it. I try so hard to keep it together. How many of you carry epinephrine auto-injectors for your children? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Luckily I had 2. Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, works by relaxing the muscles of the airways and constricting the blood vessels -- buying people time to get to the emergency room for treatment. Hi Geraldine, Understandably, epinephrine will have a great effect on a small child than a grown adult and this can be scary. injected "[this mixture] subcutaneously into the site [of accidental epinephrine injection,] and stop as soon as the skin becomes pink". Your blood pressure will rise. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Also seek emergency medical attention if you accidentally inject yourself while giving epinephrine to another person. 10.1001/archfami.3.2.193. Stier PA, Bogner MP, Webster K, Leikin JB, Burda A: Use of subcutaneous terbutaline to reverse peripheral ischemia. Each EpiPen Jr Auto-Injector, 0.15 mg delivers a single dose of epinephrine. Alain Pcoud is thanked for critically reviewing the manuscript. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. When she didnt respond I said it was an emergency. Clean any accidental sticks right away. Google Scholar. The accidental action caused Alex's heart to stop. Fitzcharles-Bowe C, Denkler K, Lalonde D: Finger injection with high-dose (1:1,000) epinephrine: does it cause finger necrosis and should it be treated?. He's a bit younger than you so perhaps they weren't always that way. As Teddy expected, Cristina began to work too quickly and wasn't careful with the instruments. Children weighing less than 30 kgDose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. Epinephrine acts quickly to improve breathing, stimulate the heart, raise a dropping blood pressure, reverse hives, and reduce swelling of the face, lips, and throat. This will help prevent your skin from drying out due to constant exposure to high levels of alcohol. Phentolamine is used to control blood pressure during surgery for pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, when the tumor releases catecholamines because of manipulation and the stress of surgery. Finally, wash your hands after using the restroom; this is where you're likely to spread germs. J Am Med Assoc. Some doctors may want to see you to ensure youre alright. By using this website, you agree to our If you are looking for additional tips on epinephrine at school, we have several additional blog posts you might enjoy: Your email address will not be published. My brother did something similar in middle school cause for some reason he though my epipen was the case for the thermometer. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Many people dont realize that after using the pen, you still must call 911 and get emergency medical attention, just in case you need back-up treatment. He . You may even want to print out the instructions and keep them in a handy place (for example, fold it up and keep it with the epinephrine shot). 7). 4 What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? Hopefully, you can remain calm, notify people in the immediate vicinity, and seek medical advice quickly. Its always better for someone to help monitor your behavior and call for help if needed. The charge on your body will move through any water that comes into contact with it, allowing you to get shocked without being close to a person. In conclusion, epinephrine can be given through clothes but only if you know what you're doing. Accidentally injecting EpiPen into your hands or feet may result in a loss of blood flow to those areas, and resulting numbness. )Aug 27, 2019. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death.