Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The epi-pen was expired, therefore, he thought the needle would not come out. Answer (1 of 4): I just saw your comment that you stabbed yourself in the finger. The tester should look altogether different from the actual pen with a vivid color or other markings. Plast Reconstr Surg. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The EpiPen injection, contrary to popular perception, may be administered through clothes. Finally, wash your hands after using the restroom; this is where you're likely to spread germs. Hand sanitizer overuse can cause dry, cracked skin, as well as redness, discolouration, and flaking. Place the orange tip against the middle of the outer thigh (upper leg) at a right angle (perpendicular) to the thigh. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If epinephrine is accidentally injected into tiny locations such as the fingers and hands, blood vessels constrict at the site of injection. 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. Contrary to popular belief, the EpiPen injection can be delivered through clothing. Just how much does an EpiPen hurt? Reduced blood flow implies less oxygen reaching the tissue. J Emerg Med. He unintentionally injected the adrenaline into the tip of his thumb. Correspondence to The big problem is that it is psychologically difficult to stab yourself with the strength and follow-through that are necessary to drive the blade in all the way. It does not store any personal data. Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not . 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. Call them and ask before you go down there. Wear gloves when working with hazardous materials to prevent contamination. Google Scholar. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images, but is obvious as the patient is the first author of this case report. Many patients also need more than one dose of epinephrine or other emergency treatments. Ive battled environmental allergies for years and I always carry an Epipen with me. Hold firmly in place for 3 seconds (count slowly 1, 2, 3). How much does it cost to build a house 450 sq ft? Glad you are okay! In the case of an emergency, you may not easily be able to let caregivers know if you are breastfeeding or pregnant. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. I have a nut allergy. Isn't the practice pen visually quite different? Most suicides approach the problem is a way to give themselves . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Terms and Conditions, Your email address will not be published. For example, wear protective clothing when giving injections, use a sharps container to dispose of needles, and learn how to recognize signs of allergy attack (breathing problems, swelling of the face). 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. Ive followed suit and do the same when I receive a new Epipen. In order for epinephrine to work properly, it must be injected into the thigh muscle. Hopefully, you can remain calm, notify people in the immediate vicinity, and seek medical advice quickly. If someone has symptoms of anaphylaxis:. (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. His blood pressure was 175/85 mmHg, heart rate 80/minute, and respiratory rate 16/minute. I am 100% okay. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Also seek emergency medical attention if you accidentally inject yourself while giving epinephrine to another person. As Teddy expected, Cristina began to work too quickly and wasn't careful with the instruments. You hold it in the middle of your clenched fist . An ironic side note: An estimated 10% of accidental epinephrine injections occur when healthcare providers demonstrate how to use the injector to their patients! Your injection can be a reason for concern if injected in the hands, feet, or digits. I hope you dont have to use an Epipen and I hope you never use an Epipen without needing it. Use your EpiPen at the first sign of anaphylaxis. If you were playing around and happened to inject into your thumb (I have seen that one), you might need to have some emergency treatment due to fracture of or impaling the distal phalanx and concern about vasoconstriction of vessels in the thumb. PubMedGoogle Scholar. 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. J Am Med Assoc. She, at that point, thought I had found something wrong with my newly dyed hair. What happens if you give yourself epinephrine? PubMed Large amounts of ink swallowed from a bottle could be irritant, but serious poisoning has not been reported.". Journal of Medical Case Reports I decided to try the practice one I knew was in the case. 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. 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. In the event of an unintentional injection, seek medical care right away. But holding it for 10 seconds is appropriate in all cases, and it may easier to remember.) 3. Research shows that parents who receivehands-on training are better able to properly demonstrate how to use their childs epinephrine shot[4]. He specializes in orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment, and general surgical procedures. Elevated heart rate and/or heart palpations. Clean any accidental sticks right away. 2023 Nutricia North America. Im sure there are many more hypothetical situations but these are the few I could come up with. I used my first EpiPen at the age of 7, after eating chocolate cake at a restaurant, sliced with the same knife used on a walnut cake. I was looking in some cabinets for neosporin when I came across my old epipens. Seek emergency medical treatment if this occurs. the wound is large or gaping and you cant gently push the edges together. It was funny cause he has ADHD and it actually made him act kinda stoned for a bit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | Dust Mite Solutions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Hi Lace, Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. No do not worry: Nothing will happen, just your heart may start beating faster for few minutes and than back to normal. Thankfully I havent had to use it Ive practiced a lot though. The drug wasn't supposed to be inside of the EpiPen an 11-year-old boy stabbed himself with during health class. What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? Dispose of any used needles/syringes in a safe manner. Alain Pcoud is thanked for critically reviewing the manuscript. Most cases of anaphylaxis happen quickly and fully resolve after theyre treated. 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. We are planning to do this with a bunch at our next family gathering so anyone who might be around our son can have some practice. Accidentally injecting EpiPen into your hands or feet may result in a loss of blood flow to those areas, and resulting numbness. Next, aim for the middle of the outer thigh, holding it at a right angle to the thigh. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. What I stabbed myself with. Topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators, and immersion in warm water were attempted unsuccessfully. Self-administrated shots of epinephrine (often referred to by the brand name EpiPen or epinephrine pen) are life-saving devices which can halt an allergic reaction and give a patient time to get to a hospital. Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. The Bottom Line. 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 . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2007, 18: 448-452. Unintentional injection of epinephrine into fingers or hands can cause limited blood flow and injury. B12 injections or vaccinations), theres a sharp sting as the needle punctures the skin. 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. Full recovery was noted at a 2-month follow-up exam. Teaching your child about social distancing. How to save an ischemic finger. Remove the device from your thigh . 3). If the contents of the needle splashed to nose, mouth, face or other skin areas, wash them well with soap. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Velissariou I, Cottrell S, Berry K, Wilson B: Management of adrenaline (epinephrine) induced digital ischaemia in children after accidental injection from an EpiPen. PubMed If you do choose to use hand sanitizer regularly, here are some tips to avoid any side effects: Don't use more than what's on your hand for too long. 2 pencil. Luckily I had 2. Burkhart KK: The reversal of the ischemic effects of epinephrine on a finger with local injections of phentolamine. I had began to feel very energized and had slight pain on my outer thigh. What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? Home care. Indirect contact with an electric field generated by a shock pen may also be harmful. This event also highlights the importance for all doctors to gain quick access to information in the case of unusual presentation. 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. However, this is the worst-case situation. What is the difference between an Australian citizen and an Australian permanent resident? Then theres a deep ache as the medicine is released into the muscle. 4 What are the symptoms of an accidental epinephrine injection? Life-saving auto-injectors are used to treat anaphylaxis. Place the orange tip on the thigh. If your heart is weak and you get a big enough flood of natural adrenaline, you can faint, or get a heart arrhythmia, a heart attack, or a stroke. "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.". Do not use liquid medications that are cloudy or have changed color Calculate the . . You should take special care not to walk through puddles of water when out of doors, otherwise you might get hurt from the electrical current flowing through the ground. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction, often to ordinary things like bee stings, peanut butter, or antibiotics. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This will help prevent your skin from drying out due to constant exposure to high levels of alcohol. Epinephrine can kill you. 10.1007/s11552-006-9012-4. Use a sterile material to dry the wound and immediately cover the wound with a waterproof plaster or dressing. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. If your Epipen was used by you or a family member on accident make sure its stored in the correct place. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Maguire WM, Reisdorff EJ, Smith D, Wiegenstein JG: Epinephrine-induced vasospasm reversed by phentolamine digital block. Whether you are new to food allergies and want to get to know our products, or you need help with a lifestyle change, for new ideas to . 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00529.x. Seek emergency medical attention even after you use EpiPen to treat a severe allergic reaction. Hold the leg of young children firmly in place before and during injection to prevent injuries. J Med Case Reports 3, 7268 (2009). Ive mixed up my Epipen and trainer before but Ive always figured out which is which. Epinephrine autoinjector devices are used with increasing frequency to treat severe anaphylactic reactions. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. In the event of accidental injection, you should always seek medical attention. 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. The symptoms can rebound, returning hours or even days after you get an epinephrine injection. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. My brother did something similar in middle school cause for some reason he though my epipen was the case for the thermometer. 4 What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? 2 What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? Lock up your EpiPen in a safe location, so it is not available to children or others who might misuse it. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It's gone a kind of pale bluish white colour, feels quite numb and cold. What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? For instance if you were to stab yourself with a pencil, to prick yourself on a pin, or to fall onto a fork (I could do this all day) then the resultant wound would be a puncture. What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? You might feel anxious. the cut is deep or exposes subcutaneous tissue. You may repeat the injection every 5 to 10 minutes as needed. Thus far Ive been lucky. 6 What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. If you did not hear a click, that person may not have received any medication. Your blood pressure will rise. 10.1016/S0735-6757(99)90028-1. What happens if you stick yourself with an EpiPen accidentally? Over the years, I've gotten a lot better at wielding an EpiPen. When I went to grab it to throw it out it opened and stabbed me in my palm right under my thumb. I try so hard to keep it together. It says it expired in 2007. injected "[this mixture] subcutaneously into the site [of accidental epinephrine injection,] and stop as soon as the skin becomes pink". PubMed Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Learn more about Epinephrine Injection . What happens if you accidentally inject epinephrine into your thumb? Which is a uniquely modern human Homo sapiens trait? pain and swelling at the injection site. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. I have accidentally taken a shot from my EpiPen, I thought it was a used one and was getting rid of my old ones, I do suffer with a Heart Condition, Diabetes, Had two Pulmonary Embolisms, Two Brain Aneurysms and Brain Surgeries, Other Surgeries too many to mention and the list goes on. Symptoms of an unintentional injection are typically mild and may include: Injecting an EpiPen accidentally into your hands or feet may result in a lack of blood supply to those areas, resulting in numbness. 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. Management options for accidental injection of epinephrine from an autoinjector: a case report, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0. Hi Geraldine, A commonplace for discussion, news, advice and questions with fellow sufferers. Yikes! While injecting the epinephrine, count to ten. If they aren't able to take it back, they can probably point you towards somewhere that you can bring it to for disposal. A medical student has gone viral by detailing the correct way to use an EpiPen - after watching a video of a clueless girl accidentally stabbing herself in the finger while trying to administer . Dr. Alvin Lin answered. As soon as he noticed the needle in his leg he pulled it out. Some doctors may want to see you to ensure youre alright. The chance of serious injury from an accidental injection increases if . 12/13/17 AT 5:36 PM EST. Swing and push the auto-injector firmly until it clicks. The click signals that the injection has started. Greene AK: Management of epinephrine injection injury to the digit. Wow, great example of how being under pressure can make simple instructions and tasks more difficult. Most people understand that an Epipen contains epinephrine. Mix of 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of salt to 1 cup of warm water. If you alone call your local doctors office or allergist its never a bad idea to let them know the mistake. Many pharmacies aren't licenced to take back medications for disposal. Avoid rubbing your face with dried out hands; this can lead to more problems down the road. Luckily, the doctors performed emergency procedures and were able to restart it. What happens if you inject an EpiPen without needing it? (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. You may also consider using EpiPen while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Epipens are a key part of having allergies and they are used at our most vulnerable times. If bleeding occurs from the wound, cover with a gauze or towel and apply firm direct pressure without letting go . 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. Epinephrine increases blood pressure and can trigger heart arrhythmias, strokes, and heart attacks. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The practice pen that I had looked almost identical to the real thing. 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. However, I was still feeling very energized. Remind them to be careful! :). The intravenous alpha-blocker phentolamine was not prescribed. This might reduce blood flow to the affected region. Copyright 2020 - 2023 Stamina Comfort Inc. What happens if you take an EpiPen without needing it? I looked down at the epipen itself and saw there was a needle. 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. The child is fine now, but questions remain how this troubling incident could have happened. Please Introduce Yourself: 1, 888 : Travel: 1, 400 : Restaurants: 1, 210 : Recipes and Cooking: 826 . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. An unintentional injection into the hands or feet might reduce blood supply to these tissues, potentially resulting in tissue death. Once injected epinephrine will: According to instructions, you should inject yourself in the upper thigh, however, mistakes are made. Treatment included topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators and warming of the thumb. Keep the wound clean and dry. While reading the operating instructions, he attempted to launch the needle but erroneously placed his left thumb over the needle opening. It's also a good idea to flush out your . It's best to contact your healthcare provider right away after an accidental injection. 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. In any case, you should always seek medical assistance if you accidentally inject yourself; it's better to be safe than sorry! Accidental injection, usually involving a finger, is a potential complication. Immediate effects are: Local Vasoconstriction Loss of circulation/ adequate perfusion with a cap refill >4 seconds. Hand X-ray did not show a fracture of the distal phalanx. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. Just how much does an EpiPen hurt? He developed swelling, pallor, and pain in the thumb. 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. Summary: Epinephrine autoinjectors can be life-saving for patients experiencing anaphylaxis a life-threatening emergency but according to a new case series, the most commonly used autoinjector appears to be contributing to injuries in children. I used to make jokes and wonder how someone could "accidentally" give themselves an epinephrine shot -- until it happened to us. 10.1001/archfami.3.2.193. Call first to speak to a nurse or doctor then take their advice on whether you need to visit the medical office. Video: The life-saving skill EVERYONE should have: Medical student reveals exactly how to use an EpiPen - after watching viral video of a girl stabbing HERSELF while trying to help a sick friend What happens if you inject an EpiPen by accident? All authors read and approved the final manuscript. McGovern SJ: Treatment of accidental digital injection of adrenaline from an auto-injector device. Introduction Epinephrine autoinjector devices are used with increasing frequency to treat severe anaphylactic reactions.