Epinephrine
Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
What is Epinephrine?
Epinephrine (epipen) is a prescription medication used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), life-threatening allergic emergencies, and certain medical conditions that require rapid cardiovascular or respiratory support. Most commonly carried as an auto-injector such as EpiPen, EPINEPHrine works quickly to open airways, improve breathing, increase blood pressure, and reduce severe allergy symptoms. Learn about EPINEPHrine uses, dosage, side effects, emergency treatment, and allergy management.
Side Effects
- Persistent pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth at the injection site
- Heavy sweating, nausea, vomiting
- Tremors, shakiness
Warnings
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, heart rhythm problems, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, or Parkinson disease.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:Serious skin infections at the injection site (including necrotizing fasciitis, myonecrosis)High blood pressurePulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)Kidney problemsHeart and heart rhythm problemsHigh blood sugar
- A severe allergic reaction is a medical emergency. Go to an emergency room as soon as possible, even if you feel better after you use this medicine.
- Do not inject this medicine into your buttocks, hands, fingers, toes, or feet. Go to the emergency room right away if you accidently inject epinephrine into any part of your body other than your thigh. Epinephrine reduces blood flow, and this could damage areas that have small blood vessels, including the hands and feet.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Prescription savings · · · ·
What is Epinephrine ?
Epinephrine (epipen) is a prescription medication used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), life-threatening allergic emergencies, and certain medical conditions that require rapid cardiovascular or respiratory support. Most commonly carried as an auto-injector such as EpiPen, EPINEPHrine works quickly to open airways, improve breathing, increase blood pressure, and reduce severe allergy symptoms. Learn about EPINEPHrine uses, dosage, side effects, emergency treatment, and allergy management.
- Persistent pain, redness, swelling, tenderness, or warmth at the injection site
- Heavy sweating, nausea, vomiting
- Tremors, shakiness
- Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, blue lips and fingernails, swelling in the legs or ankles
- Decrease in how much or how often you urinate, bloody urine
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, heart rhythm problems, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, or Parkinson disease.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:Serious skin infections at the injection site (including necrotizing fasciitis, myonecrosis)High blood pressurePulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)Kidney problemsHeart and heart rhythm problemsHigh blood sugar
- A severe allergic reaction is a medical emergency. Go to an emergency room as soon as possible, even if you feel better after you use this medicine.
- Do not inject this medicine into your buttocks, hands, fingers, toes, or feet. Go to the emergency room right away if you accidently inject epinephrine into any part of your body other than your thigh. Epinephrine reduces blood flow, and this could damage areas that have small blood vessels, including the hands and feet.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
- Trouble breathing
Epinephrine Coupons & Prices
Epinephrine (Adrenalin)
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Epinephrine prices by dosage
Lowest cash price with a free Rx.com coupon vs. the average retail price.
| Dosage | Quantity | Retail price | Rx.com price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ml of 1mg/10ml · Vial | 10 | $13.99 | $7.82 |
Cash prices near ZIP 77433; updated regularly. Actual pharmacy price may vary.
Looking for an epinephrine coupon? Epinephrine is the emergency medicine used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) from insect stings, foods, medications, latex, and other allergens. It comes as a low-cost generic in prefilled auto-injectors and vials, but the cash price can vary widely from one pharmacy to the next, so comparing before you fill matters. Rx.com checks prices at more than 60,000 U.S. pharmacies so you can enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you and use a free Rx.com discount at the counter, no insurance required.
What is epinephrine and how does it work?
Epinephrine is an alpha- and beta-adrenergic agonist (a sympathomimetic catecholamine, also called a vasopressor). In an allergic emergency it works fast to open the airways, tighten blood vessels to support blood pressure, and reduce the swelling, hives, and breathing trouble that come with a severe Type I allergic reaction. It is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis caused by insect stings or bites, foods, medications, latex, and other allergens.
It is most familiar as a prefilled auto-injector under brand names like EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, Auvi-Q, Adrenaclick, and Symjepi, given as an injection into the outer thigh. There is also an FDA-approved nasal spray form (neffy) for anaphylaxis. In a medical setting, injectable epinephrine (Adrenalin) is given intravenously to treat low blood pressure from septic shock, is used during cardiac arrest and resuscitation, and can be added to prolong the effect of a local anesthetic.
How much does epinephrine cost without insurance?
Epinephrine is available as a generic (generic_available: yes), and the generic is generally far more affordable than the brand-name auto-injectors. Even so, the cash price is not the same everywhere, the amount you pay can differ significantly between two pharmacies in the same town, which is exactly why it pays to compare. Rx.com shows live prices across 60,000+ pharmacies, so enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you. There is no insurance required to use an Rx.com discount.
If you or your child are prescribed the brand-name EpiPen or EpiPen Jr, the manufacturer offers a savings program; terms and eligibility vary, so check the official page at epipen.com/access-and-savings-programs. Compare that against the live generic cash price shown above to see which option is lower for you.
Brand-name and related options
Epinephrine auto-injectors are sold under several brand names, including EpiPen and EpiPen Jr, Auvi-Q, Adrenaclick, and Symjepi, plus the vial form Adrenalin and the neffy nasal spray. The active medicine is the same epinephrine, so if a generic auto-injector is available at your pharmacy it is worth comparing its price against the brand.
Epinephrine is not a substitute for an antihistamine, and the two work differently. Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) may be used for milder allergy symptoms, but they do not treat anaphylaxis, epinephrine is the emergency treatment for that. Talk with your provider about which medicines belong in your allergy plan.
Safety, side effects, and how to use it
In a true life-threatening allergic emergency, there are no absolute reasons not to use epinephrine. Inject only into the middle of the outer thigh (the anterolateral thigh), never into the buttocks, and never into the fingers, hands, or feet, because the medicine narrows blood vessels and an accidental injection there can cut off blood flow and injure the tissue. Always carry two devices, since a second dose is sometimes needed, and seek emergency medical care right away after any use.
Common effects can include a fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat, anxiety, tremor, dizziness, sweating, headache, and nausea. Use with caution, and under a provider's guidance, if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, or Parkinson disease. Some medicines, including beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, and certain antihistamines, can change how epinephrine acts. This information is not medical advice; talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your specific situation and your allergy action plan.
This Epinephrine information was written and reviewed against authoritative U.S. medical sources — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), DailyMed, and FDA prescribing information — and checked for accuracy. It is provided for education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Verify the official label: Epinephrine on DailyMed (FDA)
Reviewed against FDA labeling · Last reviewed July 2026
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Medical disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.