ADRENALINE INJECTION

Adrenaline Acid Tartrate
Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some of the common questions people ask about Adrenaline injection. It does not contain all the information that is known about Adrenaline injection.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor will have weighed the risks of you using Adrenaline injection against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine.

You may need to read it again.

What Adrenaline Injection is used for

Adrenaline injection is usually only given in cases of extreme emergency.

Adrenaline may be used following a heart attack, or to make the heart beat if it has stopped.

Adrenaline is also used in the emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings, medicines, foods or other substances. It may also be given during acute asthma attacks for severe breathing difficulties.

In heart conditions it can help to restart the heart and stimulates it to beat more strongly. Adrenaline injection also opens up the airways making it easier to breathe.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.

Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.

Adrenaline injection is not addictive.

Before you use Adrenaline Injection

When you must not use it

Adrenaline injection is an emergency life-saving product.

However, it should be given with care if you have an allergy to:

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:

Do not use Adrenaline injection if:

Your doctor will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using adrenaline injection during pregnancy.

Adrenaline injection can stop the contractions in the womb during labour.

Do not use Adrenaline injection after the use by (expiry) date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you are not sure whether you should start using this medicine, talk to your doctor.

Before you start to use it

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

Adrenaline injection passess into breast milk and there is a possibility that your baby may be affected.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits of using it during breastfeeding.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy,, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and Adrenaline injection may interfere with each other. These include:

These medicines may be affected by Adrenaline injection or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to use different medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while using this medicine.

If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you are given any Adrenaline Injection.

How to give Adrenaline Injection

How to use it

Adrenaline Injection will normally be given to you by your doctor or by a specially trained nurse.

If you have to give Adrenaline injection, your doctor will have told you what dose to use.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.

This may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

The injection will usually be given just under the skin, however it can also be given into the muscle, or straight into the vein Adrenaline injection should not be given into the buttocks.

Children will be given a lower dose of Adrenaline depending on their weight.

For patients using the injection for an allergic reaction emergency:

If you get an allergic reaction as described by your doctor, use Adrenaline Injection immediately. Keep the medicine ready to use at all times.

This medicine is for injection only. If you will be giving yourself or anybody else injections make sure you know how to give them. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.

If you have to use Adrenaline Injection in an emergency tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital. You may need further medical treatment.

If you use too much (overdose)

The doctor or nurse giving you Adrenaline Injection will be experienced in its use, so it is extremely unlikely that you will be given too much.

However, if you experience any side effects after being given Adrenaline injection, tell your doctor or nurse immediately.

If you have to give Adrenaline Injection, make sure you give it exactly as directed.

This will make it unlikely that too much will be given.

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have used too much Adrenaline injection. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

Symptoms of overdose may include feeling unwell, flushing or abnormal heart beats, and headaches.

While you are using Adrenaline injection

Things you must not do

Do not use Adrenaline injection to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Adrenaline.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following lists of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

These side effects are usually mild.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention

Serious side effects are rare.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

After using Adrenaline injection

Storage

If you are storing Adrenaline Injections at home, they should be stored in the original pack in a cool dark place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep it where children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop using Adrenaline injection or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.

Product description

Adrenaline Injection is a clear, colourless solution.

Adrenaline 1mg/mL (adrenaline 1:1,000) contains adrenaline acid tartrate as the active ingredient, plus

Adrenaline 1mg/10mL (adrenaline 1:10,000) contains adrenaline acid tartrate as the active ingredient, plus

Adrenaline Injections are available in:

1mg/1mL (adrenaline 1:1,000) packs of 5 and 50 clear glass ampoules

1mg/10mL (adrenaline 1:10,000) in packs of 10 clear glass ampoules

Adrenaline is known as epinephrine in the USA.

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NORTH RYDE NSW 2113