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Practical implications of issuing epinephrine prescriptions at primary health care facilities

Jan Stachurski1, Anna Janus-Młodawska1, Robert Gałązkowski2

Affiliation and address for correspondence
Pediatr Med Rodz 2019, 15 (2), p. 120–124
DOI: 10.15557/PiMR.2019.0020
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Abstract

In their daily work, a primary care physician often meets patients with indications to issue a prescription for epinephrine for self-supply. However, they should not settle for writing a prescription, but also carry out full instructions as to the indications as well as the method of injection. The instruction should be carried out by a doctor or a nurse and be adapted to the specific medication that the patient will purchase. Attention should be paid not only to the patient, but also to all persons in the patient’s environment who may be forced to administrate epinephrine. The article discusses the mechanism of action of epinephrine, indications for its prescription and applicable contraindications. Attention was paid to the correct dosage of the drug, in particular – the need to prescribe at least two doses of the drug to the patient, so that the patient had at least two pieces of the medicine with him. Potential risks for the patient in the case of improper use are presented, for example a wrong route of administration. Differences between pre-filled syringes and auto-injectors are described. The preparations available on the Polish drug market (Adrenaline WZF and EpiPen) are presented. The work describes in detail how to use these devices, which allows a doctor or a nurse to prepare for the training of the use of a pre-filled syringe or an auto-injector. Attention is drawn to the application of training devices in order to instruct the use of the EpiPen.

Keywords
adrenaline, epinephrine, EpiPen, auto-injector, pre-filled syringe

Oświadczam, że posiadam prawo wykonywania zawodu lekarza i jestem uprawniony do otrzymywania specjalistycznych informacji medycznych. Chcę zapoznać się z informacją z serwisu.