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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffDuring an anaphylactic attack, an emergency medical team may perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating. You may be given medications including:
- Epinephrine (adrenaline) to reduce your body's allergic response
- Oxygen, to help compensate for restricted breathing
- Intravenous (IV) antihistamines and cortisone to reduce inflammation of your air passages and improve breathing
- A beta agonist (such as albuterol) to relieve breathing symptoms
- Steroid medications to treat or prevent prolonged anaphylaxis symptoms
What to do in an emergency
If you're with someone who is having an allergic reaction and shows signs of shock caused by anaphylaxis, a quick reaction is essential. Signs and symptoms of shock caused by anaphylaxis include pale, cool and clammy skin, weak and rapid pulse, trouble breathing, confusion and loss of consciousness. Even if you're not positive symptoms are caused by anaphylaxis, take the following steps immediately:
- Call 911 or emergency medical help.
- Check the person's pulse and breathing and, if necessary, administer CPR or other first aid measures.
- If the person has medications to treat an allergy attack, such as an epinephrine auto-injector or antihistamines, give them right away.
Using an auto-injector
Many people at risk of anaphylaxis carry an auto-injector. This device is a combined syringe and concealed needle that injects a single dose of medication when pressed against your thigh. Always be sure to replace epinephrine before its expiration date, or it may not work properly.
Be sure you know how to use the auto-injector. Also, make sure the people closest to you know how to administer the drug — if they're with you in an anaphylactic emergency, they could save your life. Medical personnel called in to respond to a severe anaphylactic reaction also may give you an epinephrine injection or another medication to treat your symptoms.
Long-term treatment
If your anaphylactic reaction is triggered by insect stings, you may be able to get a series of allergy shots (immunotherapy) to reduce your body's allergic response and prevent a severe reaction in the future.
Unfortunately, in most other cases there's no way to treat the underlying immune system condition that can lead to anaphylaxis. But you can take steps to prevent a future attack — and be prepared in the event one does occur.
- You may need to carry self-administered epinephrine. During an anaphylactic attack, you give yourself the drug using an auto-injector (EpiPen, EpiPen Jr or Twinject).
- Your doctor may recommend taking prednisone or antihistamines.
