Because this must be administered without delay, patients known to be at risk often carry their own adrenaline injection kits for use in an emergency. A relatively new adrenaline injection kit called the Anapen is also available. During May 1994, the Government's Chief Medical Officer issued clear guidelines to general practitioners in a document called the CMO's Update. The article covered peanut allergy specifically, but the need for specialist advice is just as important whatever foods trigger anaphylaxis. Even if the diagnosis is in doubt, patients should on no account be advised to test their reaction by eating peanuts.
Adrenaline is the front line treatment for severe reactions.
Even if the symptoms are not severe, if there is any doubt about outcome then adrenaline should be administered rather than withheld, because the longer the delay before its administration in a severe reaction, the worse the outcome. In fact, doctors who favour the Epipen or Anapen often prescribe more than one injection kit so that patients living more than 10 minutes from their hospital may administer this second dose, should it be necessary. Click on the Anaphylaxis Campaign logo to return to the home page.