Reducing Risk of Exposure to Allergens and Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis emergency and allergy treatment

Epinephrine can counteract some of the most severe symptoms of anaphylaxis and save lives if given at the first sign of an allergic reaction. Emergency use epinephrine is easy to use because it's already measured in a prefilled device. Remember, a child care provider must have completed Medications Administration training, and the child must have a health care provider’s written order and parental consent to administer medication.

The emergency use of epinephrine is a portable, disposable drug delivery device or product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that contains a premeasured single dose of epinephrine that is used to treat anaphylaxis in an emergency situation.

Select each tab to learn more about the two forms of available emergency use epinephrine.

Auto-injectable epinephrine

Epinephrine injection is a prefilled device that delivers a solution into the muscle to treat severe allergic reactions and is used when needed at the first sign of a serious reaction. There are many different FDA-approved brand- and generic-name versions of auto-injectable epinephrine. It’s important to follow the manufacturer label instructions and the health care provider’s order.

Non-injectable form of epinephrine: Nasal spray

In August 2024, the FDA approved Neffy (epinephrine nasal spray) for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions in adult and pediatric patients who weigh at least 30 kilograms (about 66 pounds).The Neffy prescription consists of two single-dose nasal spray devices. Like the epinephrine injector, each device is a single dose, but Neffy is administered into one nostril. A second dose (using a new nasal spray in the same nostril) may be given if there is no improvement in symptoms or symptoms worsen. It’s important to follow the manufacturer label instructions and the health care provider’s order.

Staff or providers approved by the Office of Child Care to give medication can administer child-specific epinephrine with a health care provider’s order and parental consent.