Epinephrine Self-Administration in Anaphylactic Emergencies Comparison of Commonly Available Autoinjectors

Life-threatening anaphylactic emergencies are largely unpredictable. Epinephrine is widely accepted as first-line therapy for anaphylaxis, due to its physiological effects in reversing symptoms of anaphylaxis and with studies showing both reductions in morbidity and mortality associated with its administration. Anaphylaxis can prove fatal; therefore, learning how to use an epinephrine autoinjector is crucial for people with allergies and parents of children who have previously suffered from anaphylaxis. Such people must carry an epinephrine autoinjector with them at all times for administration when required. During an anaphylactic emergency, not only is it important that adrenaline is administered into the correct tissue compartment but also that the correct dose of adrenaline is administered to achieve the desired clinical effect. Studies have shown that on average, on device activation, syringe-based autoinjectors (eg, Anapen, Twinject, and Adrenaclick) are only capable of delivering 25.7% of the total...