Description
Emerade can be used as a fast-acting emergency response medication for people at risk of going into anaphylactic shock. It is important to be aware that this medication will reduce the severity of the body’s shock response, but the person should still seek medical attention without delay after injecting themselves with Emerade. All patients prescribed Emerade should make the effort to thoroughly understand the instructions for use indicated in their prescription and on the product packaging. Correct administration of this medication is extremely important.
Directions
The standard dose for Emerade is 5 to 10 micrograms per kg of body weight, but your pharmacist will advise you on your exact dosage when they dispense the medication. Emerade can only be injected intramuscularly, meaning it must be injected into muscle tissue and the only location where Emerade is to be injected is into the outer side of the thigh (upper leg). Emerade can be injected through clothing if current surroundings make this necessary. Lying down flat after the injection will also help to counter the anaphylactic shock response.
Ingredients
Each pre-filled Emerade injection pen is designed for single-use only and entire contents of the pen should be injected. The pre-filled pen contains 0.5 ml of adrenaline solution 1 mg/ml. Emerade 150 micrograms delivers a single dose of 0.15 ml containing 150 micrograms of adrenaline (as tartrate). Each 0.15 ml (150 micrograms) dose contains 0.075 mg sodium meta-bisulphite (E223).
Cautions
There is the risk of drug interactions between Emerade and other medications, and the risk is most primarily in the way certain types of medications may enhance the effects of adrenaline when present in the body at the same time. Medications that may have negative interactions with Emerade include:
- Tricyclic antidepressants like Asendin, Norpramin, Tofranil, Anafranil, and Elavil, among others
- Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors like Marplan, Nardil, Emsam, and Parnate, among others
- Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitors like Comtan (entacapone), Tasmar (tolcapone), and Ongentys (opicapone) used to treat Parkinson’s disease, among others
Speak to your physician if you have any concerns about the possibility of negative drug interactions between Emerade and other medications you are also currently on.
The adrenaline in Emerade must also be used with caution for patients receiving halogenated hydrocarbons and related medications that make the person’s heart more sensitive to arrhythmias. Administering fast-acting vasodilators or alpha blockers can counteract the affects of Emerade’s adrenaline on blood pressure. Beta blockers can inhibit the stimulating affects of the adrenaline in Emerade.
The hyperglycaemic effect of adrenaline may necessitate an increase in insulin or oral hypoglycaemic treatment in diabetic patients.
Side Effects
Product Code : 13198
Prescription Required
