title: Safety of epinephrine for anaphylaxis in the emergency setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While epinephrine is the recommended first-line therapy for the reversal of anaphylaxis symptoms, inappropriate use persists because of misunderstandings about proper dosing and administration or misconceptions about its safety. The objective of this review was to evaluate the safety of epinephrine for patients with anaphylaxis, including other emergent conditions, treated in emergency care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MEDLINE search using PubMed was conducted to identify articles that discuss the dosing, administration, and safety of epinephrine in the emergency setting for anaphylaxis and other conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epinephrine is safe for anaphylaxis when given at the correct dose by intramuscular injection. The majority of dosing errors and cardiovascular adverse reactions occur when epinephrine is given intravenously or incorrectly dosed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epinephrine by intramuscular injection is a safe therapy for anaphylaxis but training may still be necessary in emergency care settings to minimize drug dosing and administration errors and to allay concerns about its safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Traub
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lipinski
keywords: Allergy; Anaphylaxis; Cardiovascular side effects; Epinephrine; Safety