For a moderate to severe allergic reaction, what is the recommended treatment?

For a moderate to severe allergic reaction, what is the recommended treatment?

• A. Administer diphenhydramine
• B. Epinephrine auto-injector or 0.3 mg IM of 1:1000
• C. Albuterol inhaler
• D. Hydrocortisone IV

Answer: (B)

Epinephrine is the fastest, most effective treatment for a moderate to severe allergic reaction because it tackles the life-threatening parts at once: it constricts blood vessels to raise blood pressure, reduces airway swelling, and relaxes bronchial muscles to open the airways. The recommended approach is to give an IM injection of 0.3 mg of 1:1000 epinephrine, either via an auto-injector or a direct injection, and repeat if symptoms persist per protocol. While diphenhydramine can help with itching and hives, it does not reverse airway compromise or shock and should not replace epinephrine. Albuterol can address bronchospasm but doesn’t treat the underlying anaphylaxis. Hydrocortisone acts too slowly to be useful in the immediate emergency. So, the best initial treatment is epinephrine.

Epinephrine is the fastest, most effective treatment for a moderate to severe allergic reaction because it tackles the life-threatening parts at once: it constricts blood vessels to raise blood pressure, reduces airway swelling, and relaxes bronchial muscles to open the airways. The recommended approach is to give an IM injection of 0.3 mg of 1:1000 epinephrine, either via an auto-injector or a direct injection, and repeat if symptoms persist per protocol. While diphenhydramine can help with itching and hives, it does not reverse airway compromise or shock and should not replace epinephrine. Albuterol can address bronchospasm but doesn’t treat the underlying anaphylaxis. Hydrocortisone acts too slowly to be useful in the immediate emergency. So, the best initial treatment is epinephrine.