I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has been prescribed an epipen and had to use it. I'm wondering how you made the decision to use it as opposed to not, and what it felt like after you used it. And did you then go the doctor afterwards?

I have had major full-body allergic reactions although testing hasn't pinpointed what I've reacted to. I was prescribed an epipen and have never had to use it.

And I was just curious if anyone else had and what it was like.

My (one day to be ex-) wife was prescribed an epipen after suffering a severe alergic reaction (we think) to almonds. She was crouched on the floor with severe diarrhea and stomach cramps and unable to stand. I had to lift her to bed and we were considering calling an ambulance. At that point we would have used an epipen had we had one.

It depends on what type of reaction you have if it will be obvious that you need to use it (the idea that you can't breathe if you need an epipen is not always true). Definately talk to your doc.

Definately always go to hospital - epipens are only temporarily effective - when on canoe trips we take 3 pens.

I have them for my son but never had to use it. We had an expired epi at the dental office that the Doc punched into the side of a cardboard box and that thing has serious power. You would know when to use it when you feel like your throat may swell or you have trouble breathing. Severe allergic reactions escalate very rapidly so not much time to decide what to do. You would definitely need to call an ambulance because after you'd be too shaky to drive from all the epi in your system. It's like a huge adrenaline rush.

Hi Alaska,
I carry 2 epi pens needed for a full body reaction to unknown food or ??. The epi pen will start to hold back the reaction giving you time to get to a hospital. You need to go by ambulance if possible. the family was told not to try to drive me in case I stop breathing on the way. The medics will start an IV or it will be done at the hospital and you will be given other meds as needed. I can't take gravol it makes me worse so they give me something else for nausea. They also give me 3 days on prednisone because you can have a rebound reaction that is often worse.

I have been tested for 150 different things and didn't react to any of them so the whole thing has been a big mystery but the most likely culprit is the preservative sulfite (look it up it has different names)which is in so many things. The best thing you can do is keep a food diary so you can track what you have eaten, this is a lot of work. (bonus it helps with weight loss too) This only happened to me about 7 years ago for the first time but I had a cranky stomach most of my life and had all the remedies for heartburn etc. which now seems likely that it was something I was eating. I now eat very plain food, organic when possible and avoid restaurants unless I question the staff about ingredients.

This is a frightening issue to deal with, my poor hubby doesn't sleep on nights when he thinks I may be reacting. I also keep liquid Benadryl for allergy on hand and If I feel something start I take 4 teaspoons right away but be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

When this first happened I was afraid to eat for several days (not the easiest way to lose weight but what the heck I'll consider it a bonus).

There are several good allergy web sites that may help. Good luck with it and I will watch for you to post. Mugwump

I've been prescribed one but never had to use it. Friend of mine's used his a few times. If there's any doubt at all and you feel like the reaction is progressing unchecked, use it sooner rather than later and seek followup care. He's an idiot and has driven himself post use (duuuuude....)

Better to err on the side of caution than dump your blood pressure and be too out of it to use it, especially if you're on your own...

thank you all! it helps to hear actual experiences...i don't know what I was reacting to but it seems to be exacerbated by exercise...i've only ever had a reaction start while in the middle of a hard workout...i was tested for countless things and it turned up allergies to cats, lobster, cockroaches, mild allergies to various pollens, and a sensitivity to apples....none of which i had consumed prior to any reactions....so it's still unknown and i've never had to use my epipen....but it's unnerving to not know when a reaction will happen or what causes it