J Accid Emerg Med. It can also be harmful if consumed or goes into your eyes. Should I go to the hospital if I stabbed my hand? )Aug 27, 2019. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Ive broken out in hives a few times and Ive wondered if I needed to use my Epipen. old, shot himself with an epi-pen. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Sometimes they dont improve hours or days later. 2007, 18: 448-452. Google Scholar. The Epi Pen on the other hand has a sort of truncated flat ORANGE cone at the needle end, while the safety catch is the BLUE end. Even though they are labeled I still get worried and have to look closely. 2 What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? Hand sanitizer overuse can cause dry, cracked skin, as well as redness, discolouration, and flaking. When she didnt respond I said it was an emergency. B12 injections or vaccinations), theres a sharp sting as the needle punctures the skin. If you alone call your local doctors office or allergist its never a bad idea to let them know the mistake. What happens if you inject an EpiPen by accident? (I may earn a small commission on the products linked to in this post.). Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. An ironic side note: An estimated 10% of accidental epinephrine injections occur when healthcare providers demonstrate how to use the injector to their patients! What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? It's gone a kind of pale bluish white colour, feels quite numb and cold. Treatment included topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators and warming of the thumb. Unintentional injection of epinephrine into fingers or hands can cause limited blood flow and injury. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 1 What happens if you accidentally take an EpiPen? All Rights Reserved. Accidental injection, usually involving a finger, is a potential complication. If you get an artificially high dose (milligrams rather than tenths of a milligram) it can kill you. What causes the arms to go numb while sleeping? 2005, 115: 1800-1801. A regimen of management of accidental epinephrine injection emphasizing the use of phentolamine should be instigated. Only use the EpiPen injector provided by your doctor's office! It will also reduce swelling of the face and respiratory system. Rinse and wash the area well with running water and soap. A commonplace for discussion, news, advice and questions with fellow sufferers. This might reduce blood flow to the affected region. The greatest risk of an accidental or an incorrect injection is that injecting the epinephrine elsewhere can delay or impair the effectiveness during a time-critical emergency. Hold the injector in your fist with the needle end (usually red or orange) away from your . Do not inject into your veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands or feet. Your blood pressure will rise. In preparation for this article, I tried to find data on the amount of Americans who currently have EpiPens a medical device used to self-inject an emergency dose of epinephrine to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis and the closest number I could find was in a 2016 Wall Street Journal article that estimated prescriptions to be around 3.6 million nationwide. Use them safely to prevent finger sticks. Are you in danger of lead poisoning? Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Little electric shocks can cause injury or disease if you come into contact with them directly. In the event of an unintentional injection, seek medical care right away. Call first to speak to a nurse or doctor then take their advice on whether you need to visit the medical office. If left untreated, low blood glucose levels may lead to seizure or coma. The only symptoms I experienced was: shock realizing what I had done, energy that lasted a few hours, slight shaking, some pain at the injection sight, and slight numbing of my leg. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Correspondence to Make sure your fingers arent close to either end of the auto-injector. The Epipen can as a result of this increase in blood pressure cause quick heartbeat, and in the case that your heart is damaged or worsening cardiomegaly, this may lead to atrial flutter, which may lead to an atrial flutter which may lead to fibrillation that could collapse your heart. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. pain and swelling at the injection site. . Seek emergency medical treatment if this occurs. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction, often to ordinary things like bee stings, peanut butter, or antibiotics. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Dust Mite Allergy And Chronic Cough (My Throat Was Irritated), Is Vaseline Good For Eczema (When To Use And Avoid). In the emergency room, his thumb was cold and pale. But its important for patients and caregivers to know how to properly work an automatic epinephrine shot. Article Formal training should be provided to all health professionals who prescribe or issue epinephrine autoinjectors. Its always better for someone to help monitor your behavior and call for help if needed. Hi Alice, Answer (1 of 6): It depends on where you inject. J Am Med Assoc. This however, is the worst-case scenario. He accidentally discharged the contents of the spring-loaded syringe into his thumb; and the needle was twisted into the distal tip of his finger. The EpiPen injection, contrary to popular perception, may be administered through clothes. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. Does it matter where you stick an EpiPen? (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. Arch Fam Med. Patients who have an acute allergic reaction can immediately inject epinephrine with them, reversing peripheral vasodilation, edema, constriction of the airways, and myocardial depression. You should always be checked out at the ER after using your EpiPen. 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. Do not use liquid medications that are cloudy or have changed color Calculate the . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. elevated heart rate and/or heart palpations. spstarke. What happens if you stab someone with an EpiPen? Here, EpiPen's are pictured in a two-pack August 16, 2016 . No need to use antiseptics or disinfectants. Next, aim for the middle of the outer thigh, holding it at a right angle to the thigh. A delay in administering epinephrine can be life threatening. Thus, those receiving prescriptions for epinephrine autoinjectors should receive similar training. At Dust Mite Solutions we try to answer the most important questions you have about allergies. EpiPens contain epinephrine, a chemical that narrows blood vessels and opens a persons airways in their lungs. In the event of accidental injection, you should always seek medical attention. If you have expired epipens at your house you should take them to your pharmacy so they can be disposed of properly instead of just throwing them away. CM, PS and BF have made substantial contributions to conception, design, writing the manuscript and literature review. Keep the wound clean and dry. This is important to know if you normally have high blood pressure, Cupboard/First Aid Kit Away From Children And Pets, Away From Sun (in the dark) But Not Refrigerated, You might feel antsy for a few hours afterward. In preparation for this article, I tried to find data on the amount of Americans who currently have EpiPens a medical device used to self-inject an emergency dose of epinephrine to treat life . What happens if you inject an EpiPen without needing it? Delayed capillary refill of the left thumb after accidental injection of epinephrine. 3). McGovern SJ: Treatment of accidental digital injection of adrenaline from an auto-injector device. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. Hand. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. Other possible injuries include redness, swelling, blistering, or peeling of the skin, bleeding under the skin, or scarring. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hi Lace, 5 What happens if you get stuck with an EpiPen and dont need it? When to seek help You should always seek prompt medical attention if you cut yourself and observe any of the following: you cant stop the bleeding. I ended up stabbing myself (accidentally) in the soft fleshy pad of my thumb, about 1" from the end. Medication Administration: When preparing to give meds to a patient: always look up any medication you are unfamiliar with (so that you know why you are giving the medication and so you will know possible s/s) Use only medications in a clearly labeled container. Then I suddenly registered that - wait a second - that doesn't look right. . Access to medical databases through new technologies is essential. 2023 Nutricia North America. 1 What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? If I start to feel nausea and my stomach hurts or I get rashes and a headache, should I use an epipen? A regimen for management of accidental epinephrine injection, in particular the use of phentolamine, should be emphasized. Which is a uniquely modern human Homo sapiens trait? Ugeskr Laeger. What are the symptoms of an accidental epinephrine injection? If epinephrine is injected into small areas such as fingers and hands by mistake, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. 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.
accidentally stabbed myself with epipen