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Anaphylactic Shock Treatment

A person who has had an anaphylactic reaction should talk with their healthcare professional and develop an Anaphylaxis Emergency Action Plan for responding to future reactions. Many people find that having a plan is reassuring, even if it is never needed. A critical component of the plan is having an epinephrine autoinjector available at all times and knowing when and how to use it.

Emergency treatment
Because anaphylaxis can be life-threatening, it should be treated as an emergency. Anyone who is experiencing a sudden allergic reaction that might be anaphylaxis should use their epinephrine autoinjector and then call 911 or emergency medical services. If they are in their home alone, they should make sure that the door is unlocked so that the emergency team can enter. The person should not be left alone if possible. First aid measures for anaphylaxis include rescue breathing (part of CPR). Rescue breathing may be hindered by the constricted airways, but if the patient stops breathing on his or her own, it is the only way to get oxygen to him or her until professional help is available.

Medications treatment
Epinephrine is the best treatment for anaphylaxis and it works best if it is given within the first few minutes of a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine rapidly treats all of the most dangerous symptoms of anaphylaxis - including throat swelling, difficulty breathing, and low blood pressure. However, epineprine is not a perfect treatment so allergic triggers should be avoided.

Other medicines that are used in the treatment of allergic reactions can help with some of the symptoms, but only epinephrine treats the entire reaction. Antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine and others) help with itching and hives, and asthma inhalers (such as albuterol) can help with coughing and wheezing, but these medications do not treat the dangerous symptoms of throat swelling and low blood pressure. In addition, antihistamines taken by mouth are too slow-acting to be effective in a rapidly-developing episode of anaphylaxis. In contrast, injected epinephrine works within a few minutes.

Therefore, antihistamines and asthma inhalers are useful in the treatment of anaphylaxis, but they are NOT substitutes for epinephrine. There is no substitute for epinephrine in anaphylaxis.

Medical Treatment
The first priority in the emergency department is to protect the airway (breathing) and maintain adequate blood pressure. The emergency team will make sure that your airway is open and that you are getting adequate oxygen.

  • Oxygen may be given through tubes into the nose or by face mask.
  • In severe respiratory distress, mechanical ventilation may be required. In this situation, a tube is placed via the mouth into the air passages to keep the airway open. The tube is connected to a ventilator ( providing oxygen directly into the lung ).
  • In rare cases, a simple surgery is performed to open an airway.

    If blood pressure is dangerously low, medication to increase blood pressure will be given.

  • An intravenous (IV) catheter may be inserted.
  • This is used to give saline solution to help boost blood pressure.
  • The IV line may also be used to give medication.

    • Long-term treatment
    If patient's 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).

    Submitted by Health Studies on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 22:56
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