EpiPen Administration Guidelines
Step-by-Step Instructions for EpiPen Administration
- The American College of Medical Professionals recommends removing the EpiPen from the plastic carrying case, pulling off the blue safety release cap, holding the orange tip near the outer thigh, swinging and firmly pushing the orange tip against the outer thigh, holding in place for approximately 10 seconds, and then removing the EpiPen and massaging the injection area for 10 more seconds 1
- For Auvi-Q Auto-Injector, remove the outer case, pull off the RED safety guard, place the black end against the outer thigh, press firmly and hold for 5 seconds 1
- For Adrenaclick Auto-Injector, remove GREY caps labeled "1" and "2", place RED rounded tip against outer thigh, press down hard until needle penetrates, and hold for 10 seconds, then remove 1
Critical Actions After Using an EpiPen
- Call 911 immediately after administering epinephrine, and monitor the patient closely for symptom progression or improvement 1, 3
- A second dose may be administered after 5 minutes if symptoms persist or recur, according to the Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1, 4
- Keep the patient lying on their back with legs raised, and note the time when epinephrine was administered to inform emergency responders 1
Important Considerations
- Always inject into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh for fastest absorption, as recommended by Praxis Medical Insights 4
- Intramuscular injection leads to faster absorption (peak concentration at 8±2 minutes) compared to subcutaneous injection (34±14 minutes) 4
- Antihistamines and inhalers should not be relied upon as primary treatment for anaphylaxis, according to the Mayo Clinic Proceedings and Praxis Medical Insights 1, 4