Epipens are they safe?

[Madge270]

I have about 8000 PVCs a day. I'm also allergic to several medications  (antibiotics) and my doctor said I might need an epipen when I take them to keep me alive until I get to a hospital. Just about all antibiotics close my throat.  But I thought epipens contained epiphenephrine, and was told by a friend that it's bad for those with a heart arrhythmia.  Has anyone here with PVCs had to use an epipen for an anaphlactic shock reaction, and if so, was it safe for the heart?  Thanks.

[jondsam]

Hello I have severe reactions from insect stings especially bee stings.  Its so bad that 1 or 2 stings will put me into anaphylactic shock.  I have over 5000+ PVC's a day and the docs say it is a supposed benign condition. (which I do not believe).  My wife has never had a pvc or palpitations. Anyways, I have to carry around a epipen everywhere I go.  Last year I was working in my back yard and was stung twice, once in the face under the eye and once in my arm.  I was swollen within seconds and was confused and turned pale.  I stuck myself with the epipen and called the ambulance.  I was in the hospital for two days while they worked on me.  The doctor said the epipen saved my life.  He also said if you have pvc's the epipen poses little threat as the allergic reaction is much more serious.  When I stuck myself my heart rate shot up and i could feel the pvc's jumping.  Most of the time in some situations epinephrine is used to save people from arrhythmia.  I would go with the epipen and feel safe with it.

[cindy707]

I don;t know Madge its like you would be trading one off for the other...however you would need to prioritize your situation and if you would be experiencing "true" anaphalaxis that obviously would take priority over the chance of increasing the pvcs because as you know if the reaction starts it does not stop and progress' so that is a sure thing and the pvcs are not altho definately put you in a higher risk group .  I personally would opt for the epi stick because your situation would be stopped and then the pvcs can be addressed IF they pop up when you get the stick.  I think its a safe bet....