Prepare if you or your child needs epinephrine for allergies, at all times, including at school

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Many people rely on epinephrine to treat life-threatening reactions to bee stings, certain foods, or other allergens.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 13 children, roughly 2 or 3 in every classroom, depending on the class size, has a food allergy. According to the Journal of Asthma and Allergy, approximately 5 to 7.5 percent of people will experience a severe reaction to an insect sting during their lifetime.

During the school year, parents and guardians should make sure epinephrine prescription products are available and ready to use when they're needed — including during the school day.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to make sure that everyone has the most updated information about the availability of these widely-used products. You should talk to your doctor about the different epinephrine products that may be available if your pharmacy does not have the treatment you generally use.

It’s no surprise that demand for these products tends to increase as parents send their kids back to school in the fall with newly refilled prescriptions.

The FDA alerts consumers and health care providers when medicines are hard to access, informs them about the availability of certain widely used medicines, and lets them know about other medicines that have the same indication. The agency also works with manufacturers to help make sure patients have access to an adequate supply of medicine.

Remember that, for epinephrine or any other medicine, it’s important to pay attention to expiration dates and labeled storage instructions. Expired medical products, or products that have not been stored according to labeled conditions, can be less effective due to a decrease in strength or pose potential safety risks due to changes in chemical composition.

Adverse reactions to epinephrine include anxiety, apprehensiveness, restlessness, tremor, weakness, dizziness, sweating, palpitations (sensation of heart racing), pallor (paleness), nausea and vomiting, headache, and respiratory (breathing) difficulties. Rare cases of serious skin and soft tissue infections have been reported after epinephrine injection.

For additional information, visit fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/making-sure-kids-are-prepared-if-they-need-epinephrine-treatments-school.