For patients living with a severe allergy it is important to:

For patients living with a severe allergy it is important to:

• Know what triggers the allergy and avoid these at all times.
• Know how to recognise the symptoms of anaphylaxis.
• Have your Adrenaline available at all times and ensure they are in date.
• Understand how and when to correctly take your medicines.
• Make friends, family and colleagues aware of how to recognise the symptoms of anaphylaxis and how to administer your treatment(s).

Adrenaline is the drug of choice for first-line treatment of anaphylaxis because it works quickly to reverse the symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction.

When adrenaline is injected into the muscle of the thigh it acts quickly to constrict blood vessels, which helps to stop swelling around the face and lips, and relaxes the lungs, which improves breathing. Adrenaline also stimulates the heart, and helps raise lowered blood pressure.

The sooner the injection is given the better and you should seek professional medical assistance immediately after using your Adrenaline. You should be prepared to administer a second Adrenaline after 5 -15 minutes if there is no improvement or if original symptoms return.