title: Epinephrine absorption in adults: intramuscular versus subcutaneous injection.
abstract: We report a prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, 6-way crossover study of intramuscular versus subcutaneous injection of epinephrine in young men. Peak plasma epinephrine concentrations were significantly higher (P < .01) after epinephrine was injected intramuscularly into the thigh than after epinephrine was injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously into the upper arm. We recommend intramuscular injection of epinephrine into the thigh as the preferred route and site of injection of this life-saving medication in the initial treatment of anaphylaxis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Department of Pediatrics & Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Simons
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000322:Adrenergic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001132:Arm; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013848:Thigh
chemical_list: D000322:Adrenergic Agonists; D004837:Epinephrine