Page 23 - The Ultimate Guidebook for Teens with Food Allergies

Anaphylaxis happens so quickly. And epinephrine is the only proven way to stop it in its tracks.
Let’s address the elephant in the room—needles. Does an auto-injector hurt? Well, yes. But surprisingly less than you would probably expect if you’ve never used one. It’s a tiny prick. This pales in comparison to how the other symptoms are attacking your body. Often, the more difficult aspect of using an auto- injector is that it makes the entire issue seem more serious. You could be injecting yourself with a needle at the dinner table, for example.
Yes, 9-1-1, or your local emergency service, must be called. You will have to go to the hospital for monitoring. But isn’t it worth it when compared to the alternative? Sure you might be the centre of attention that day and you may feel embarrassed by it. So what? You would be more embarrassed if you tried to ignore the reaction and kept it a secret from others until things were out of control. People will want to help you. They will be there to support you. They will be there for you that much more afterward to help make sure it never happens again.
In Canada, we currently have two auto-injectors available: EpiPen® and Allerject®.
Which one you carry is up to you. Just carry it, okay? Also remember to have two doses with you in case the symptoms are not gone or getting worse. An extra dose also gives you more time to get to a hospital for proper treatment.
It’s very exciting to know that a lot of research is currently being done about treatments for food allergies. Research for treatments such as immunotherapy, among others, is in progress. As mentioned earlier, it’s important to remember that there is currently no cure for food allergies. Below is a list of current research being done. Be sure to ask your allergist if you’re interested in learning more.