Any reason NOT to use an EpiPen?

[Meli65]

Ds1 is allergic to nuts and dairy and has a very sensitive system overall. He hasn't had a seriouis reaction in a long time and when he did, we treated with homeopathic remedies.

He just started preschool and his ped recommends he have an epipen. Is there a downside to that? I worry about him having a reaction to a bee sting, for instance. I'd want to treat him homeopathically first, but have it just in case. Any reason not to?

Sorry so short, nak. Thanks!

[circlemama]

We have a similar situation, and I do carry an epi pen jr. and gave a duo pak to the pre-school. Better safe than sorry.

[Sneezykids]

better to be safe is right. in a life threatening situation the adrenaline can and does save lives!
A little neighbor girl was stung last week and has been stung before but this time she went into anaphalactic shock, we were at a deck party (+kids) and we had to call 911. It was really really scary.

[Meli65]

I guess I'm just wondering if the EpiPen could possibly do more harm than good. Could it create a further or different reaction in my ds?

I don't know how the stuff works and don't necessarily trust my ped to give me a good answer. Thanks!

[Sneezykids]

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/e/epipenjr.htm

Here is a good link that should be of help.
Timing is key in giving the Epi. I have been told by several doctors that it won't hurt a child, if you say, give it to them and it wasn't really needed. Do you have an allergist? They will be more helpful than a ped./dr.
And from personal experience, I'm talking major swelling and facial hives in both my kids, the benefits far outweigh any risks that they might have. HTH!

[ShellyK]

I've never had to actually use one, but when our allergist prescribed the one we carry, he said worst case scenario if the child gets the shot and doesn't really need it is that they'd be hyper or wound-up for a while. Epinephrine is a synthetic version of a hormone that our bodies make naturally. I don't think it's something you'd want to take every day, but my understanding of anaphalaxis (and it's very much an educated layperson's understanding) is that even if the previous reaction was not life-threatening, the next one could be, and it is often hard to tell whether a developing reaction is going to subside or get worse fast.

Sorry I haven't done more research to share with you. I just know if my daughter's face starts swelling up like the last time it did when she ate pineapple, I'm going to be digging in the bottom of my purse for that pen.

Oh, and for school, make sure they know to immediately follow up the epi with a dose of Benadryl because the epi-pens can wear off before the reaction is over, and Benadryl is longer-lasting, though slower-acting.

[Sneezykids]

right, or we give Benedryl first, then the Epi if needed. Also, you are supposed to take your child to their allergist or hospital if you inject the Epi pen. Your dr. should have told you that. It's true that reactions are much like russian roulette, you just don't know when the next one will be a bad one or mild, which certainly keeps us parents on edge!
My ds had a BAD milk reaction last December. His daycare provider accidentally gave him a fudgcicle thinking it was a soy one and he got very sick and I was at work. I had to fly there and had her call 911, by the time I got there he was already hooked up to O2 and was givin a SHOT of benedryl and we were on the way to the E.R. He was okay, but gah, that scared the crap out of me (and him) although, when the steroids kicked in while in the E.R. he started to feel better and wanted to go back in the ambulence for a ride... :LOL kids. They often recover better than us. I was a wreck for days.

[Missy]

Some of the more recent thought is that giving benadryl for an ana. reaction or as a means to "pretreat" potential reactions in a possibly risky situation (ex. birthday party) actually serves to mask the most dangerous reactions so that they're not noticed until too late. Benadryl does not open the airways in the same manner nor does it reverse shock in the same way that an epi does. So, a child's internal system could be shutting down even as the hives are disappearing from the benadryl. It's true that the epi can wear off within about 20 minutes; that's why most prescriptions are for two pens.

I would never again risk not giving an epi during an anaphylactic reaction. The body can shut down so incredibly quickly. Even though many "experts" claim that it takes several minutes to build to a serious reaction, anaphylaxis can actually occur within seconds and nothing acts faster than an epi. It's not worth my child's life to explore alternatives at that point.

Missy

[Sneezykids]

yes, the risk is too high, like the other pp's said, giving it too them even if the reaction subsided w/ benedryl alone (as it did for ds once), it's better to be safe than not. I've been told " you did the right thing " by the ER dr's. I had to give ds the Epi when he was 1 year old from eating a CRUMB of a Dorito at a birthday party and the hosptial was 25 minutes away. He had hives everywhere, esp on his face. So SO scary!

Wanted to mention to anyone reading this too, if you call 911 tell them to bring Epiephrine with them.