WARNINGS
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
PRECAUTIONS
Emergency Treatment
Epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector is intended for immediate administration as emergency supportive therapy and is not intended as a substitute for immediate
medical care. In conjunction with the administration of epinephrine, the patient should seek immediate medical or hospital care. More than two sequential
doses of epinephrine should only be administered under direct medical supervision [see INDICATIONS, DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and PATIENT INFORMATION].
Injection-Related Complications
Epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector should only be injected into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and PATIENT INFORMATION].
Do Not Inject Intravenously
- Large doses or accidental intravenous injection of epinephrine may result in cerebral hemorrhage due to a sharp rise in blood pressure. Rapidly acting
vasodilators can counteract the marked pressor effects of epinephrine if there is such inadvertent administration.
Do Not Inject Into Buttock
- Injection into the buttock may not provide effective treatment of anaphylaxis. Advise the patient to go immediately to the nearest emergency room for further
treatment of anaphylaxis. Additionally, injection into the buttock has been associated with the development of Clostridial infections (gas gangrene). Cleansing
with alcohol does not kill bacterial spores, and therefore, does not lower the risk.
Do Not Inject Into Digits, Hands Or Feet
- Since epinephrine is a strong vasoconstrictor, accidental injection into the digits, hands or feet may result in loss of blood flow to the affected area. Advise the
patient to go immediately to the nearest emergency room and to inform the healthcare provider in the emergency room of the location of the accidental injection.
Treatment of such inadvertent administration should consist of vasodilation, in addition to further appropriate treatment of anaphylaxis [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Hold Leg Firmly During Injection
- Lacerations, bent needles, and embedded needles have been reported when epinephrine has been injected into the thigh of young children who are uncooperative
and kick or move during an injection. To minimize the risk of injection related injury when administering epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector to young
children, instruct caregivers to hold the child’s leg firmly in place and limit movement prior to and during injection.
Serious Infections At The Injection Site
Rare cases of serious skin and soft tissue infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis caused by Clostridia (gas gangrene), have been reported at the
injection site following epinephrine injection for anaphylaxis. Clostridium spores can be present on the skin and introduced into the deep tissue with subcutaneous or
intramuscular injection. While cleansing with alcohol may reduce presence of bacteria on the skin, alcohol cleansing does not kill Clostridium spores. To decrease
the risk of Clostridium infection, do not inject epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector into the buttock [see Injection-Related Complications]. Advise patients to
seek medical care if they develop signs or symptoms of infection, such as persistent redness, warmth, swelling, or tenderness, at the epinephrine injection site.
Allergic Reactions Associated With Sulfite
The presence of a sulfite in this product should not deter administration of the drug for treatment of serious allergic or other emergency situations even if the patient
is sulfite-sensitive.
Epinephrine is the preferred treatment for serious allergic reactions or other emergency situations even though this product contains sodium bisulfite, a sulfite that
may, in other products, cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms or life-threatening or less severe asthmatic episodes in certain susceptible
persons.
The alternatives to using epinephrine in a life-threatening situation may not be satisfactory.
Disease Interactions
Some patients may be at greater risk for developing adverse reactions after epinephrine administration. Despite these concerns, it should be recognized that the
presence of these conditions is not a contraindication to epinephrine administration in an acute, life-threatening situation. Therefore, patients with these conditions,
and/or any other person who might be in a position to administer epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector to a patient experiencing anaphylaxis should be carefully
instructed in regard to the circumstances under which epinephrine should be used.
- Patients with Heart Disease
Epinephrine should be administered with caution to patients who have heart disease, including patients with cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery or organic heart
disease, or hypertension. In such patients, or in patients who are on drugs that may sensitize the heart to arrhythmias, epinephrine may precipitate or aggravate
angina pectoris as well as produce ventricular arrhythmias [see DRUG INTERACTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS].
- Other Patients and Diseases
Epinephrine should be administered with caution to patients with hyperthyroidism, diabetes, elderly individuals, and pregnant women. Patients with Parkinson's
disease may notice a temporary worsening of symptoms.
Patient Counseling Information
[see FDA-Approved Patient Labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION and Instructions for Use)]
A healthcare provider should review the patient instructions and operation of epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector, in detail, with the patient or caregiver.
Epinephrine is essential for the treatment of anaphylaxis. Carefully instruct patients who are at risk of or with a history of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to
insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, and other allergens, as well as idiopathic and exercise-induced anaphylaxis, about the circumstances under which epinephrine
should be used.
Administration And Training
Instruct patients and/or caregivers in the appropriate use of epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector. Epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector should be injected
into the middle of the outer thigh (through clothing if necessary).
Instruct caregivers to hold the leg of young children firmly in place and limit movement prior to and during injection. Lacerations, bent needles, and embedded
needles have been reported when epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector has been injected into the thigh of young children who are uncooperative and kick during
an injection [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Each epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector is a single-use injection. Advise patients to seek immediate medical care in conjunction with administration of
epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector.
Complete patient information, including dosage, directions for proper administration and precautions can be found inside each epinephrine injection, USP autoinjector
carton. A printed label on the surface of epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector shows instructions for use and a diagram depicting the injection process.
Instruct patients and/or caregivers to use the Trainer to familiarize themselves with the use of epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector in an allergic emergency. The
Trainer may be used multiple times.
Adverse Reactions
Epinephrine may produce symptoms and signs that include an increase in heart rate, the sensation of a more forceful heartbeat, palpitations, sweating, nausea and
vomiting, difficulty breathing, pallor, dizziness, weakness or shakiness, headache, apprehension, nervousness, or anxiety. These signs and symptoms usually subside
rapidly, especially with rest, quiet, and recumbency. Patients with hypertension or hyperthyroidism may develop more severe or persistent effects, and patients with
coronary artery disease could experience angina. Patients with diabetes may develop increased blood glucose levels following epinephrine administration. Patients
with Parkinson's disease may notice a temporary worsening of symptoms [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Accidental Injection
Advise patients to seek immediate medical care in the case of accidental injection. Since epinephrine is a strong vasoconstrictor when injected into the digits, hands
or feet, treatment should be directed at vasodilation if there is such an accidental injection to these areas [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Serious Infections At The Injection Site
Rare cases of skin and soft tissue infections, including necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis caused by Clostridia (gas gangrene), have been reported at the injection
site following epinephrine injection for anaphylaxis. Advise patients to seek medical care if they develop signs or symptoms of infection, such as persistent redness,
warmth, swelling, or tenderness, at the epinephrine injection site [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Storage And Handling
Instruct patients to inspect the epinephrine solution visually through the viewing window periodically. Replace epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector if the
epinephrine solution appears discolored (pinkish or brown), cloudy, or contains particles. Epinephrine is light sensitive, store in the outer case provided to protect it
from light. Instruct patients that epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector must be properly disposed of once the blue caps have been removed or after use [see HOW SUPPLIED].
Complete patient information, including dosage, directions for proper administration and precautions are provided inside each epinephrine injection, USP autoinjector
carton.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Long-term studies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of epinephrine have not been conducted.
Epinephrine and other catecholamines have been shown to have mutagenic potential in vitro and to be an oxidative mutagen in a WP2 bacterial reverse mutation
assay.
Epinephrine was positive in the DNA Repair test with B. subtilis (REC) assay, but was not mutagenic in the Salmonella bacterial reverse mutation assay.
The potential for epinephrine to impair fertility has not been evaluated.
This should not prevent the use of epinephrine under the conditions noted under INDICATIONS.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Teratogenic Effects
Pregnancy Category C.
There are no adequate and well controlled studies of the acute effect of epinephrine in pregnant women.
Epinephrine was teratogenic in rabbits, mice and hamsters. Epinephrine should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to
the fetus (fetal anoxia, spontaneous abortion, or both).
Epinephrine has been shown to have teratogenic effects when administered subcutaneously in rabbits at approximately 30 times the maximum recommended daily
subcutaneous or intramuscular dose (on a mg/m2 basis at a maternal dose of 1.2 mg/kg/day for two to three days), in mice at approximately 7 times the maximum
daily subcutaneous or intramuscular dose (on a mg/m2 basis at a maternal subcutaneous dose of 1 mg/kg/day for 10 days), and in hamsters at approximately 5 times
the maximum recommended daily subcutaneous or intramuscular dose (on a mg/m2 basis at a maternal subcutaneous dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 4 days).
These effects were not seen in mice at approximately 3 times the maximum recommended daily subcutaneous or intramuscular dose (on a mg/m2 basis at a
subcutaneous maternal dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 10 days).
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether epinephrine is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when epinephrine
injection, USP auto-injector is administered to a nursing woman.
Pediatric Use
Epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector may be administered to pediatric patients at a dosage appropriate to body weight [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Clinical experience with the use of epinephrine suggests that the adverse reactions seen in children are similar in nature and extent to those both expected and
reported in adults. Since the dose of epinephrine delivered from epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector is fixed, consider using other forms of injectable
epinephrine if doses lower than 0.15 mg are deemed necessary.
Geriatric Use
Clinical studies for the treatment of anaphylaxis have not been performed in subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger
subjects. However, other reported clinical experience with use of epinephrine for the treatment of anaphylaxis has identified that geriatric patients may be
particularly sensitive to the effects of epinephrine. Therefore, epinephrine injection, USP auto-injector should be administered with caution in elderly individuals,
who may be at greater risk for developing adverse reactions after epinephrine administration [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and OVERDOSE].