accidentally stabbed myself with epipen

Velissariou I, Cottrell S, Berry K, Wilson B: Management of adrenaline (epinephrine) induced digital ischaemia in children after accidental injection from an EpiPen. Hi Alice, Thus far Ive been lucky. Accidental injection, usually involving a finger, is a potential complication. Like many drugs, there might be side effects from epinephrine, such as anxiety, dizziness, and sweating, and swelling, pain, or changes in skin color at the injection site because of decreased blood flow to the area. 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. 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). 10.1097/00006534-200107000-00017. If I start to feel nausea and my stomach hurts or I get rashes and a headache, should I use an epipen? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Velissariou et al. 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. Peripheral perfusion is restored usually in less than 5 minutes. My wife accidentally stuck her finger and now its white, cold, numb and wrinkly like she just got out of the tub but refuses to seek medical attention. This may cause the real yellow EpiPen or real green EpiPen Jr auto-injector to accidentally activate. I was trying to use the empty injector they give you to practice and ended up accidentally sticking myself by accident with the actual pen am I going to be okay? Like other injections that go into the muscle (e.g. 10.1097/01.PRS.0000162160.26682.6E. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. All are serious errors that can delay or prevent getting someone the epinephrine necessary to stop a reaction. He's a bit younger than you so perhaps they weren't always that way. A commonplace for discussion, news, advice and questions with fellow sufferers. I think that the tester should be much more clearly marked, we had someone at work who was trying to show us how to help her in case of emergency and she accidentally used the tester and accidentally injected herself with the live pen. Answer (1 of 4): I just saw your comment that you stabbed yourself in the finger. This however, is the worst-case scenario. On this episode of ER or Not, Dr. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. Keep all medications in a safe place where children cannot reach them. (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. Giving yourself an epinephrine shot can slow down or stop an allergic reaction. 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. The amount of alcohol in most sanitizers is sufficient to kill most bacteria and viruses. What happens if you get stuck with an EpiPen and dont need it? Warnings for Shock Pens Shock pens may be sold as harmless pranks, but they have the potential to cause injury. Can you use an EpiPen if you have high blood pressure? This is why I an paranoid when I take my humera tired. What does an EpiPen do to a healthy person? Fresh, clean water is best if there is no saline on-hand. Tell your doctor if your initial EpiPen injection resulted in a major adverse effect, such as trouble breathing or dangerously high blood pressure, before using it again (severe headache, blurred vision, buzzing in your ears, anxiety, confusion, chest pain, shortness of breath, uneven heartbeats, seizure). Finally, wash your hands after using the restroom; this is where you're likely to spread germs. But what if you think you need it and you really dont. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. If your Epipen was used by you or a family member on accident make sure its stored in the correct place. She ended up stabbing Alex (Justin Chambers) with a syringe full of epinephrine, which caused him to collapse. Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not because it hurt but because it felt different than normal. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? After 8 hours, the entire finger was pink and warm, either because of the decreasing effect of epinephrine after 90 minutes [2], or because of the delayed effect of the attempted treatment. Again, hold the thing in your clenched fist, fingers and thumbs away from either end. Should I go to the hospital if I stabbed my hand? 1999, 1: 34-36. What happens if you accidentally take an EpiPen? You should always be checked out at the ER after using your EpiPen. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. They're complaining of numbness in their thumb and say "it is turning white". Only once with the lancet, but more than a couple of times with the syringe after a shot--just the other day I dropped a loaded syringe as I took it out of the vial and it hit me in the thigh on the way down stung like a ***** but no ill effects. 1 What happens if you accidentally get stabbed with an EpiPen? I don't recommend that anyone use epinephrine unless it's absolutely necessary, but I did take away some positive lessons. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I then did the only thing I could think of and yelled for my mom who was in the living room. What does a blood sugar level of 1000 mean? "Omigod, Darrel - this isn't the practice pen - this is a REAL Epi-pen!" I shouted. However, this is the worst-case situation. EpiPen has several resources to teach patients about the proper use of epinephrine shots. As someone whos had serious allergies for a long time, Ive always wondered when I might have to use my Epipen. If you don't understand any of the instructions, ask your pharmacist for help. wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. In the event of an unintentional injection, seek medical care right away. It can be given while wearing pants. It never hurts to refresh your memory on how to use your childs epinephrine shot. 1. Hold firmly against your thigh for 3 seconds for EpiPen and its generic, 5 seconds for Auvi-Q, or 10 seconds for generic Adrenaclick to deliver the medication. If epinephrine is injected into small areas such as fingers and hands by mistake, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. Should you go to the emergency room immediately? then get accidentally stabbed with it. Home care. This however, is the worst-case scenario. Ive also practiced using the Epipen in the doctors office (the trainer). You might feel anxious. 9 What happens if you accidentally inject epinephrine into your thumb? When I went to grab it to throw it out it opened and stabbed me in my palm right under my thumb. In the event of accidental injection, you should always seek medical attention. An accidental injection to the hands or feet can impair blood flow to these areas and can potentially cause tissue death. WALTHAM, Massachusetts -- Some scary moments unfolded after an 11-year-old accidentally stabbed himself with a real EpiPen during a health class lesson. Wear gloves when working with hazardous materials to prevent contamination. Talk to your health provider to see if Neocate is right for you. If you have sensitive skin, try using a less abrasive soap instead of hand sanitizer. spstarke. 1957, 163: 1477-1479. What happens if you stick yourself with an EpiPen accidentally? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Either way, glad you're OK! Most suicides approach the problem is a way to give themselves . 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. What to do. EpiPen or EpiPen Jr should only be injected into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg), through clothing if necessary. 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. Answer (1 of 6): It depends on where you inject. Mix of 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of salt to 1 cup of warm water. As of 2016, it was estimated that more than three million people in the US had a prescription for an epinephrine autoinjector; 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 the medicine to a friend. A delay in administering epinephrine can be life threatening. Velissariou et al. Here are some tips to help. 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. Young people are also more likely to have their fingers near the injection site when they use drugs intramuscularly (in their muscles). Then theres a deep ache as the medicine is released into the muscle. 1 What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? Remove the device from your thigh . It can be administered while wearing pants. There might even be a bit of a dark spot from the graphite underneath the skin. Zucker first described phentolamine as useful to prevent necrosis due to levarterenol [8] and Jordan first showed the effectiveness of this drug for accidental epinephrine injection [9]. First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. PT comes in having stuck their thumb accidentally with an EpiPen while showing someone else how to use one. 11% of children weighing 15 to 30 kg showed a risk of intraosseous injection (hitting the bone) with EpiPen Jr or Auvi-Q 0,15 mg; and 38% of children with Jext 0,15 mg. EpiPen or EpiPen Jr should only be injected into the middle of your outer thigh (upper leg), through clothing if necessary. 1992, 10: 496-10.1016/0736-4679(92)90285-2. Never reuse needles/syringes that have been used for injecting insulin or other medications. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The book states that: "Ink: ball-point pens, felt-tip pens, and fountain pens contain so little ink that there is not enough to cause poisoning if it is sucked from a pen. Hypoglycemic episodes are most likely to occur between two and four hours after injecting insulin. Research shows that parents who receivehands-on training are better able to properly demonstrate how to use their childs epinephrine shot[4]. But if you do this article can help make sure you know what to do. 2 pencil. What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? https://doi.org/10.4076/1752-1947-3-7268, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4076/1752-1947-3-7268. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. For children and adults who experience anaphylaxis, an epinephrine shot is a matter of life or death. Epinephrine is adrenaline and a naturally occurring hormone in the body. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. It can also be harmful if consumed or goes into your eyes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. 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. Delayed capillary refill of the left thumb after accidental injection of epinephrine. Thanks for reading! Its use is limited by adverse side effects such as hypotension and tachycardia, requiring adequate pre-hydration. For best results, ask your childs healthcare team to demonstrate how to properly use an epinephrine shot[3]. Here are a few tips I recommend based on the storage instructions. That is not because of the epinephrine, but because the allergic reaction probably requires further monitoring. A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). Then theres a deep ache as the medicine is released into the muscle. 1993, 70: 396-398. The drug wasn't supposed to be inside of the EpiPen an 11-year-old boy stabbed himself with during health class. Fitzcharles-Bowe C, Denkler K, Lalonde D: Finger injection with high-dose (1:1,000) epinephrine: does it cause finger necrosis and should it be treated?. What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? The effects of epinephrine may wear off after 10 or 20 minutes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". It's gone a kind of pale bluish white colour, feels quite numb and cold. Flush splashes of blood and needle contents on other parts of your body with water. 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2007.00529.x. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. What is the difference between EpiPen doses? 10.1136/emj.2003.005462. A regimen of management of accidental epinephrine injection emphasizing the use of phentolamine should be instigated. The charge on your body will move through any water that comes into contact with it, allowing you to get shocked without being close to a person. Case 1: A 15-year-old boy found an EpiPen on a bus. Which is a uniquely modern human Homo sapiens trait? Although hand sanitizer has been shown to be effective in killing germs, its usage might have unintended consequences. Police . While injecting the epinephrine, count to ten. He developed swelling, pallor, and pain in the thumb. You hold it in the middle of your clenched fist . If someone has symptoms of anaphylaxis:. Are you in danger of lead poisoning? Learn more about Epinephrine Injection . Each EpiPen Jr Auto-Injector, 0.15 mg delivers a single dose of epinephrine. Yep, been there done that. The provider orders an injection of a vasodilator to the digit, and documents a diagnosis of "Accidental epinephrine injection to L thumb". Privacy How often does a Cessna require an engine overhaul? The next day I took the used epipen and the unused one to my pharmacy to have them disposed of properly because I didnt want anyone getting hurt from me just throwing them in the garbage. In order for epinephrine to work properly, it must be injected into the thigh muscle. 10 How do you know if an EpiPen has worked? The child is fine now, but questions remain how this troubling incident could have happened. Patients who have an acute allergic reaction can immediately inject epinephrine with them, reversing peripheral vasodilation, edema, constriction of the airways, and myocardial depression. What I stabbed myself with. It's best to contact your healthcare provider right away after an accidental injection. The only difference was the real pen had a black tip and practice pen had a grey tip. A puncture wound is of course a wound that is caused by a direct puncture to the skin and often the below layers. Anyone who unintentionally injects himself or herself with insulin could experience hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) symptoms such as nervousness, shakiness, headache, and fatigue. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. Once a year Ill get my new Epipen and practice with the trainer. Vascular surgeons, anesthetists, and a hand specialist were contacted by the treating general internist. EpiPen pro tips. Does it matter where you stick an EpiPen? B12 injections or vaccinations), theres a sharp sting as the needle punctures the skin. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | Dust Mite Solutions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC I have a nut allergy. However, you don't want to be washing your hands with them constantly because the concentration decreases rapidly with time. Call first to speak to a nurse or doctor then take their advice on whether you need to visit the medical office. 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. Implicit in epinephrine autoinjector prescriptions is that physicians and pharmacists are confident that the patient or a relative can adequately use the device, and that the patient is aware of the potential dangers of incorrect administration. No need to use antiseptics or disinfectants. This however, is the worst-case scenario. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 2005, 115: 1800-1801. In summary, follow the steps below to administer an epinephrine auto-injector to yourself: Carefully remove the auto-injector from its clear carrier tube. "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.". 7). When handling epinephrine auto-injectors, it is easy to accidentally inject yourself with epinephrine. 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. Introduction Epinephrine autoinjector devices are used with increasing frequency to treat severe anaphylactic reactions. Many pharmacies aren't licenced to take back medications for disposal. Is it easy to get an internship at Microsoft? Hold the leg of young children firmly in place before and during injection to prevent injuries. What happens if you stab someone with an EpiPen? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The boy, who has no allergies, was put on an EKG after he began experiencing a rapid heart rate. Symptoms of breathing problems, nausea or vomiting, itching, and swelling can come on quickly and become life-threatening. Part of Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Unintentional injection of epinephrine into fingers or hands can cause limited blood flow and injury. If you are giving an injection to someone else, such as a child, ensure that you follow proper safety procedures. I decided to try the practice one I knew was in the case. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your blood pressure will rise. Puncture Wound Care. Because epinephrine has a powerful effect of making blood vessels contract, your finger may be at risk of not getting sufficient blood flow to survive. In any case, you should always seek medical assistance if you accidentally inject yourself; it's better to be safe than sorry! Little electric shocks can cause injury or disease if you come into contact with them directly. Case Series: A care provider accidentally administers an Epipen containing 300ug to thier own thumb/ digit whilst trying to figure out how to administer to a patient. We think a regimen of treatment should be available to treat accidental epinephrine injection. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. After injecting an EpiPen, hearing a click lets you know it worked. No do not worry: Nothing will happen, just your heart may start beating faster for few minutes and than back to normal. Hand. My son, 10 yrs. If you do happen to get hit by a shock wave, try not to touch anything with metal objects inside it because you don't want those charges to go somewhere else. Luckily, the doctors performed emergency procedures and were able to restart it. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. The most common problems were 1) not holding the auto-injector in place long enough; 2) pressing the wrong end into the thigh; and 3) using too little force to inject into the thigh. Press J to jump to the feed. 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.

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