Do I Need To Carry Benadryl And Epinephrine?

— -- Question: Do I need to carry Benadryl and epinephrine?

Answer: If you or a loved one has a history of anaphylaxis, it's important that you have the medications available for the treatment of anaphylaxis at all times. When fatal cases of anaphylaxis are reviewed, one of the most important aspects leading to death is the absence of medications, resulting in delay in treatment. So it's important that epinephrine and Benadryl be available at all times.

In the patients with asthma, they also need to carry their albuterol inhaler or their rescue inhaler and use it if they have significant asthma symptoms. So, because delay in treatment is a prominent cause of death in patients with anaphylaxis, and because these reactions are often the result of accidental exposure to the allergen, it's important that these medications for the treatment of anaphylaxis be available at all times.

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