accidentally stabbed myself with epipen

Luckily I had 2. J Emerg Med. Each EpiPen Auto-Injector contains 0.3 mL of a 1:1000 epinephrine solution for injection. https://doi.org/10.4076/1752-1947-3-7268, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4076/1752-1947-3-7268. Thus far Ive been lucky. Mehr S, Robinson M, Tang M: Doctor - how do I use my EpiPen?. If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. It can be administered while wearing pants. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What to do if you accidentally stab yourself in the hand? If epinephrine is injected into small areas such as fingers and hands by mistake, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. What happens if you inject an EpiPen without needing it? First of all, the thought of using an Epipen is scary enough. It never hurts to refresh your memory on how to use your childs epinephrine shot. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. J Med Case Reports 3, 7268 (2009). Which is a uniquely modern human Homo sapiens trait? What happens if you accidentally take an EpiPen? But if you do this article can help make sure you know what to do. He's a bit younger than you so perhaps they weren't always that way. . They're complaining of numbness in their thumb and say "it is turning white". Most accidental injections (an estimated 94%) occur when a patient or someone trying to help them accidentally jabs their finger or thumb[2]. It's also a good idea to flush out your . A delay in administering epinephrine can be life threatening. Step 2 Trainer injection simulation by self (Figure C) or caregiver (Figure D) administration Immersion in warm water, application of topical nitroglycerin, and nerve blockade have been attempted without success, although Kaspersen et al. But holding it for 10 seconds is appropriate in all cases, and it may easier to remember. She, at that point, thought I had found something wrong with my newly dyed hair. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Place the orange tip on the thigh. Remove the device from your thigh . The only difference was the real pen had a black tip and practice pen had a grey tip. I looked down at the epipen itself and saw there was a needle. Your blood pressure will rise. Hi Geraldine, Ive mixed up my Epipen and trainer before but Ive always figured out which is which. If you are giving an injection to someone else, such as a child, ensure that you follow proper safety procedures. The chance of serious injury from an accidental injection increases if you're under age 10 or over 70.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'staminacomfort_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-staminacomfort_com-medrectangle-3-0'); In fact, research shows that people who accidentally inject themselves are about three times more likely to suffer a severe reaction than are adults who intentionally inject themselves. An EpiPen or EpiPen Jr auto-injector that has been activated by accident cannot be used for a patient in an emergency and must be replaced. I ended up stabbing myself (accidentally) in the soft fleshy pad of my thumb, about 1" from the end. 1992, 10: 496-10.1016/0736-4679(92)90285-2. volume3, Articlenumber:7268 (2009) Isn't the practice pen visually quite different? Next, aim for the middle of the outer thigh, holding it at a right angle to the thigh. California Privacy Statement, 8 What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? What do you do if you accidentally inject yourself with an EpiPen? Ann Allergy. Elevated heart rate and/or heart palpations. What does an EpiPen do to a healthy person? 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. But its important for patients and caregivers to know how to properly work an automatic epinephrine shot. 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. 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. you should have gone to the e.r. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I have officially learned my lesson and will never do anything like this again. Please Introduce Yourself: 1, 888 : Travel: 1, 400 : Restaurants: 1, 210 : Recipes and Cooking: 826 . If you accidentally stab the tip in your buttocks, the medication dosage will be less effective. Answer (1 of 4): I just saw your comment that you stabbed yourself in the finger. Then theres a deep ache as the medicine is released into the muscle. Others have used local infiltration of accidental epinephrine injection sites successfully [10]-[14]. 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. What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. Hold the injector in your fist with the needle end (usually red or orange) away from your . Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Neocate is a family of hypoallergenic, amino acid-based medical foods for use under medical supervision and is indicated for cow milk allergy, multiple food allergies and related GI and allergic conditions. Google Scholar. This is important to know if you normally have high blood pressure, Cupboard/First Aid Kit Away From Children And Pets, Away From Sun (in the dark) But Not Refrigerated, You might feel antsy for a few hours afterward. The symptoms can rebound, returning hours or even days after you get an epinephrine injection. The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The treatment consists of removing the needle from the device and replacing it with a new one. When I stabbed my thigh with the black tip one I guess I got the colors mixed up and thought the black tipped pen was the practice one. Some doctors may want to see you to ensure youre alright. Always call 911 or go to the emergency room after using your EpiPen. Grip the barrel of the auto-injector in your dominant hand so the orange tip points downward. Or just take reactants. Young people are also more likely to have their fingers near the injection site when they use drugs intramuscularly (in their muscles). The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Find everything you need to know about Epinephrine Injection (Auvi-Q), including what it is used for, warnings, reviews, side effects, and interactions. Epipens are a key part of having allergies and they are used at our most vulnerable times. Article Pack the wound. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. 29/07/2008 23:27. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, 30 yr sufferer-most foods and environmental allergens. Dp says this is just to be expected but I'm worried I've damaged the circulation or something. The epinephrine is from epinephrine injection, USP 1:2000 (0.3 mL) in a sterile solution. 1998, 160: 6531-6532. If epinephrine is accidentally injected into tiny locations such as the fingers and hands, blood vessels constrict at the site of injection. Lock up your EpiPen in a safe location, so it is not available to children or others who might misuse it. Hypoglycemic episodes are most likely to occur between two and four hours after injecting insulin. 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. Aside from this, there are also risks of an accidental injection in and of itself. Several approaches were proposed: metacarpal nerve block or digital block with local lidocaine to induce an inhibition of sympathetic afferents to the digit; and topical nitroglycerin, systemic vasodilators, and warming by immersion in water to increase the blood flow supplying the digit. He specializes in orthopedic surgery, cancer treatment, and general surgical procedures. All are serious errors that can delay or prevent getting someone the epinephrine necessary to stop a reaction. What should I do if I use my EpiPen on accident? Burkhart KK: The reversal of the ischemic effects of epinephrine on a finger with local injections of phentolamine. This however, is the worst-case scenario. What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? 3. What happens if you get stuck with an EpiPen and dont need it? Are you in danger of lead poisoning? Do not inject into your veins, buttocks, fingers, toes, hands or feet. (Needless to say I dumped that dose and got a fresh syringe for the cat :lol: :lol: ) These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Help. 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. The sharp sting will hurt but lasts less than 10 seconds. They will advise you on next steps to ensure your safety. I : I believe that it's highly unlikely for anyone to develop lead poisoning from getting stabbed with a mechanical pencil, not that i'm recommending an experiment. The only symptoms I experienced was: shock realizing what I had done, energy that lasted a few hours, slight shaking, some pain at the injection sight, and slight numbing of my leg. Emerg Med J. What happens if you stab someone with an EpiPen? message spotted in SoCal snow as some grow desperate, Weekend winner, with the exception of some problematic pollen, Moose charges snowmobiler in Idaho: VIDEO. As someone whos had serious allergies for a long time, Ive always wondered when I might have to use my Epipen. What happens if you inject an EpiPen by accident? There are a few situations that come to mind when answering this question. use an adrenaline auto-injector if the person has one - but make sure you know how to use it correctly first; call 999 for an ambulance immediately (even if they start to feel better) - mention that you think the person has anaphylaxis Philippe Staeger. I used to make jokes and wonder how someone could "accidentally" give themselves an epinephrine shot -- until it happened to us. 1 What happens if I accidentally stab myself with an epipen? Many people don't realize that after using the pen, you still must call 911 and get emergency medical attention, just in case you need back-up treatment. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Should you go to the emergency room immediately? Talk to your health provider to see if Neocate is right for you. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction, often to ordinary things like bee stings, peanut butter, or antibiotics. Here are some tips to help. I had began to feel very energized and had slight pain on my outer thigh. A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). 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? Thankfully I havent had to use it Ive practiced a lot though. Hold firmly in place for 3 seconds (count slowly 1, 2, 3). Never reuse needles/syringes that have been used for injecting insulin or other medications. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. So I grabbed the Epi-pen from him and took a closer look. Springer Nature. In order for epinephrine to work properly, it must be injected into the thigh muscle. 3 What happens if you use an EpiPen and dont go to the hospital? then get accidentally stabbed with it. This sub is under reconstruction, please be patient as we work to improve it. Symptoms of an accidental injection are not usually so severe and may include: temporary numbness or tingling. While reading the operating instructions, he attempted to launch the needle but erroneously placed his left thumb over the needle opening. Answer (1 of 4): I just saw your comment that you stabbed yourself in the finger. An ironic side note: An estimated 10% of accidental epinephrine injections occur when healthcare providers demonstrate how to use the injector to their patients! However, this is the worst-case situation. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. By using this website, you agree to our You can also make a salt solution. (I may earn a small commission on the products linked to in this post.). Open Access 10.1016/S0735-6757(99)90028-1. If you handle electric shock devices without thinking about what you're doing, you could be risking serious injury. I called my moms best friend who is an ER nurse and she said as long as thats the only symptoms I have and I dont feel any different I would be okay. For best results, ask your childs healthcare team to demonstrate how to properly use an epinephrine shot[3]. As Teddy expected, Cristina began to work too quickly and wasn't careful with the instruments. pain and swelling at the injection site. Manage cookies/Do not sell my data we use in the preference centre. You should always be checked out at the ER after using your EpiPen. As expected, none caused an immediate response; however, after 8 hours, the thumb was pink and warm. (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. 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. CAS This however, is the worst-case scenario. 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. Wash it. In the case of an emergency, you may not easily be able to let caregivers know if you are breastfeeding or pregnant. The effects of epinephrine may wear off after 10 or 20 minutes. 2001, 108: 114-124. So I grabbed it, popped the lid off, and stabbed my outer thigh. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | Dust Mite Solutions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC 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. Once injected epinephrine will: According to instructions, you should inject yourself in the upper thigh, however, mistakes are made. According to the EpiPens manufacturer labeling, after injection the pen should be held in place for three seconds then removed. No do not worry: Nothing will happen, just your heart may start beating faster for few minutes and than back to normal. A puncture wound is of course a wound that is caused by a direct puncture to the skin and often the below layers. At Dust Mite Solutions we try to answer the most important questions you have about allergies. PubMed What to do. Five years later at sleep-away camp in New Hampshire, it was . The incidence is about 1 per 50,000 Epipen units [3]. In conclusion, epinephrine can be given through clothes but only if you know what you're doing. 2023 Nutricia North America. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A regimen for management of accidental epinephrine injection, in particular the use of phentolamine, should be emphasized. 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 EpiPen injection, contrary to popular perception, may be administered through clothes. 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]. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. PubMed Central Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Hinterberger JW, Kintzi HE: Phentolamine reversal of epinephrine-induced digital vasospasm. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. CAS If the epinephrine is injected by mistake into small areas such as fingers and hands, blood vessels will constrict at the site of injection. In the event of accidental injection, you should always seek medical attention. Patients who have an acute allergic reaction can immediately inject epinephrine with them, reversing peripheral vasodilation, edema, constriction of the airways, and myocardial depression. If you or someone in your family injects an Epipen without needing it,make sure you understand how it will make you feel and the potential adverse effects. Stier PA, Bogner MP, Webster K, Leikin JB, Burda A: Use of subcutaneous terbutaline to reverse peripheral ischemia. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Dust Mite Allergy And Chronic Cough (My Throat Was Irritated), Is Vaseline Good For Eczema (When To Use And Avoid). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This is important to know if you normally have high blood pressure. A regimen of management of accidental epinephrine injection emphasizing the use of phentolamine should be instigated. Epinephrine can kill you. It's best to contact your healthcare provider right away after an accidental injection. However, I was still feeling very energized. 1957, 163: 1477-1479. 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 . But everything else seems normal. What happens if you inject an EpiPen when you dont need it? [4] 4. Learn more about Epinephrine Injection . Once injected epinephrine will: Enhance your breathing, quicken your heart, and raise blood pressure. Each EpiPen Jr Auto-Injector, 0.15 mg delivers a single dose of epinephrine. Avoid rubbing your face with dried out hands; this can lead to more problems down the road. Hand sanitizer overuse can cause dry, cracked skin, as well as redness, discolouration, and flaking. Forcefully push the epinephrine injector into the outer-upper portion of the thigh in a stabbing motion, and hold it there for 10 seconds. Hold the leg of young children firmly in place before and during injection to prevent injuries. The thought of using an Epipen can be disconcerting however if you have a horrible allergic reaction you might be more than happy to use it! Your automatic instinct is to flinch or hold back to spare yourself the pain. A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). All authors read and approved the final manuscript. I first got my epipen back in 2006 and it was the same ones that I had at my house. Then you can just throw the case away. 'HELP US!!' This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. For children and adults who experience anaphylaxis, an epinephrine shot is a matter of life or death. 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. 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. You will need to receive further treatment and observation. 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. I only received a third of a junior dose. Unintentional injection of epinephrine can easily occur when handling epinephrine auto-injectors. Case presentation A physician in a Family Practice training program accidentally injected epinephrine into his left thumb while reading the operating instructions of an autoinjector (Epipen). Avocado hand occurs when a person tries to remove the pit in a dangerous manner, such as with a knife, and ends up cutting themselves. Do not use liquid medications that are cloudy or have changed color Calculate the . I accidentally injected myself today in the thumb while administering to an adolescent who had shock after school at an event. If you get an artificially high dose (milligrams rather than tenths of a milligram) it can kill you. Even little electric shocks traumatize and cause discomfort in the body. Mild electric shock reactions are transient tingles and jolts, while more extreme reactions can cause significant discomfort and even burns. Dispose of any used needles/syringes in a safe manner. 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. This will help prevent your skin from drying out due to constant exposure to high levels of alcohol. When I went to grab it to throw it out it opened and stabbed me in my palm right under my thumb. How can you prevent yourself from sticking yourself with an EpiPen? Use your EpiPen at the first sign of anaphylaxis. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. What happens if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? 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. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. Whenever I practice using my Epipen I make sure Im using the correct injector. Use them safely to prevent finger sticks. What happens if you inject an EpiPen without needing it? wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap. Little electric shocks can cause injury or disease if you come into contact with them directly. Privacy You will need to receive further treatment and observation. Why you should go to the emergency room after using the EpiPen. 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?. There was full recovery 2 months after the accident. Google Scholar. There might even be a bit of a dark spot from the graphite underneath the skin. Velissariou I, Cottrell S, Berry K, Wilson B: Management of adrenaline (epinephrine) induced digital ischaemia in children after accidental injection from an EpiPen. CAS 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. Formal training should be provided to all health professionals who prescribe or issue epinephrine autoinjectors. Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not . Troy Madsen settles your childhood fears about pencil-related injuries. Have you ever had to deal with an accidental epinephrine injection? the cut is deep or exposes subcutaneous tissue. It will also reduce swelling of the face and respiratory system. My three-year-old son once found an EpiPen on the counter and thought it was the practice EpiPen that we allow him to play with. My brother did something similar in middle school cause for some reason he though my epipen was the case for the thermometer. It does not store any personal data. Required fields are marked *. Vascular surgeons, anesthetists, and a hand specialist were contacted by the treating general internist. After 20-30 minutes the blotchiness has faded and my leg felt a bit better. Dr. Hansen has worked in hospitals for over 20 years and is a highly respected surgeon. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 1999, 17: 91-94. The only way to prevent hypoglycemia is by avoiding injections into damaged skin, using a sterile needle, syringe, and vial every time you dose your insulin. If you have sensitive skin, try using a less abrasive soap instead of hand sanitizer. 10 How do you know if an EpiPen has worked? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. He unintentionally injected the adrenaline into the tip of his thumb. What common mistake can happen when using an EpiPen? If someone has symptoms of anaphylaxis:. Treatment included topical nitroglycerin, oral vasodilators and warming of the thumb. Remind them to be careful! Almost immediately, I could tell something was off, not because it hurt but because it felt different than normal. All health professionals concerned with the use of epinephrine autoinjectors should receive adequate instruction on their use. Why did a physician put his thumb over the EpiPen? The provider orders an injection of a vasodilator to the digit, and documents a diagnosis of "Accidental epinephrine injection to L thumb". Am J Emerg Med. "I was racing 90 miles per hour from my office in Hingham, because I didn't know what was going to happen to my son," May said. The drug wasn't supposed to be inside of the EpiPen an 11-year-old boy stabbed himself with during health class. 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. 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. Hi Lace, 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. If they aren't able to take it back, they can probably point you towards somewhere that you can bring it to for disposal. Ive also wondered what happens if you use an Epipen without needing it. 10.1016/0735-6757(90)90295-B. Doctors say that you should never wear clothes that conduct electricity because it's like wearing a fuse box under your shirt. PubMed 1. EpiPen has several resources to teach patients about the proper use of epinephrine shots. (Brands may instruct users to hold the pen in place for 3, 5 or 10 seconds. At the ER they usually only watch you for safety purposes and since I didnt need the ER my mom stayed up until 1am with me to make sure I was safe. 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. Since epinephrine induces a vasoconstriction through an alpha adrenergic effect, the use of phentolamine seems logical. EpiPen pro tips. Part of This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You should seek emergency medical help immediately you use the injection. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. Press J to jump to the feed. The entire digit was cool and pale, and a prolonged capillary refill time was seen at more than 10 s (Figure 1). However, you don't want to be washing your hands with them constantly because the concentration decreases rapidly with time. Keep all medications in a safe place where children cannot reach them. Research shows that parents who receivehands-on training are better able to properly demonstrate how to use their childs epinephrine shot[4]. Velissariou et al. 7). An accidental intravenous injection (which is very rare and would be fairly difficult to do on accident), is especially dangerous and can lead to hypertension and/or heart problems[1]. 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. Sellens C, Morrison L: Accidental injection of epinephrine by a child: a unique approach to treatment. Mix of 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of salt to 1 cup of warm water. What if I use an EpiPen and dont need it? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The most common injury related to self-injection is pain at the injection site. The intravenous alpha-blocker phentolamine was not prescribed. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The tester should look altogether different from the actual pen with a vivid color or other markings. Adults and children weighing 30 kilograms (kg) or more0.3 to 0.5 milligram (mg) injected under the skin or into the muscle of your thigh. :). 10.1007/s11552-006-9012-4. 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.