EpiPen (epinephrine/adrenaline) is an emergency medical injection indicated to help alleviate symptoms of a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of this condition can include severe difficulty breathing; facial or oral swelling; loss of consciousness or skin hives. This medication can be self-administered into the upper thigh as directed by a doctor. Discuss EpiPen side effects with a doctor before using this form of treatment.
Increase Heart Rate or Difficulty Breathing
The active ingredient within EpiPen--epinephrine--simulates the nervous system to help protect the body from severe allergic reaction symptoms. As a result, this medication can cause changes in a patient's heart rate or breathing patterns, explains Drugs.com, a peer-reviewed drug information website for consumers. Patients can experience a sudden increase in heart rate that is accompanied by heart palpitations. Certain patients can also experience rapid, shallow breathing after using EpiPen. These side effects of treatment are typically temporary and subside within a few hours following EpiPen administration. Rarely, epinephrine can cause significant changes in heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to severe medical complications, such as stroke.
Stomach Upset
Patients can experience stomach upset side effects following treatment with EpiPen, explain health officials at Daily Med, a drug information website supported by the National Institutes of Health. Affected patients can develop nausea or may begin to vomiting, which can be unpleasant and uncomfortable.
Mood Changes
Sudden mood changes can occur in certain patients immediately following EpiPen treatment, explains the Better Health Channel, a health information website established by the Australian government. A patient can begin to feel unusually fearful, nervous, apprehensive or anxious. Certain patient may also see, hear or feel things that other people do not perceive (hallucinations). Though these side effects of EpiPen are temporary, they can be troubling or disturbing to patients.
Difficulty Sleeping
After receiving an EpiPen injection, patients can feel unusually energized or restless, which can make it difficult for such patients to fall asleep or stay asleep, warn health officials at PDR Health, a medical information website supported by the publishers of the Physicians' Desktop Reference. Sleeping difficulties typically resolve readily but may persist for a few days following EpiPen treatment.
Sweating
Increased sweating can occur as a side effect of EpiPen treatment, explains Drugs.com. This side effect may also be accompanied by a throbbing headache, mood changes or heart or breathing abnormalities. Patients can appear abnormally pale or flushed (red) because of excessive sweating, warns the Better Health Channel.
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