About Allerject™

Introducing Allerject™

Allerject™ is indicated for the emergency treatment of serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and is intended for people who are at risk and for people with a history of serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).

Allerject™ should be used immediately to treat yourself or your child when experiencing a severe allergic reaction. This is emergency treatment. It does not replace seeing a doctor or going to the hospital. After injection, seek immediate medical attention.

Allerject™ contains epinephrine, which is the medication used for the treatment of anaphylaxis.

Some of the ways it works include:

• Relaxes the muscles in your airways so you can breathe more easily
• Helps to reverse the rapid and dangerous decrease in blood pressure

Major features of Allerject™

• Allerject™ talks
• Allerject™ is compact
• Allerject™ is designed for ease of use

Using Allerject™

• BEFORE using Allerject™
• How to use Allerject™
• AFTER using Allerject™

BEFORE using Allerject™

• Practice with the Allerject™ trainer first.
• Always carry Allerject™ with you because you cannot predict when a life-threatening allergic reaction may occur.
• Tell others where you keep your auto-injector in case you are unable to speak in an allergic emergency.
• Examine the auto-injector often. The medicine in the viewing window of the auto-injector should be clear and colourless. If the medicine looks cloudy, discoloured, or contains particles, or the expiration date has passed, Allerject™ should be replaced.
• Always keep Allerject™ at room temperature and away from direct light. Direct light and extreme temperatures including excessive heat or cold can damage the medicine.
• Depending on the severity of reaction, you may require an additional dose of epinephrine.

How to use Allerject™

Allerject™ contains an electronic voice instruction system to help guide you through each step of your injection. If the voice instructions do not work for any reason, use Allerject^TM as instructed in these Instructions for Use. It will still work during an allergic reaction emergency.

Pull Allerject™ from the outer case

Pull off RED safety guard

Place BLACK end against the middle of the outer thigh (through clothing, if necessary), then press firmly and hold in place for five seconds.

Seek immediate medical or hospital care.

AFTER using Allerject™

With an allergic reaction, you may need to administer an additional dose of epinephrine.

Seek medical attention immediately even if the symptoms seem to have subsided. Because the effects of epinephrine can wear off and there is a chance of a second reaction, it is important that you seek medical assistance or go to the emergency room immediately after using Allerject^TM.

Even if you have sought medical help, you must stay within close proximity to a hospital or where you can easily call 911 for the next 48 hours.

Following administration of Allerject™:

• The black base will lock into place.
• The voice instruction system will say Allerject^TM has been used and the lights will blink red.
• The RED safety guard cannot be replaced.
• The viewing window will no longer be clear.
• Some medicine will remain in Allerject^TM. However, the injection is complete and you have received the correct dose of the medication.
• Take to your doctor or pharmacist for proper disposal (never discard Allerject^TM in regular trash).
• Discuss your medical history and current medications with the healthcare professional (for example, diabetic patients may need to adjust the dose of their diabetes medicines or insulin after using Allerject^TM).
• Replace your used Allerject^TM.

You will now need a new Allerject™. The used device and any remaining medicine cannot be reused. Until you dispose of your used Allerject™, the electronic voice instruction system will remind you that it has been used when you remove the outer case.

Dosage strengths

Each Allerject™ contains a single dose of epinephrine and is for single patient use only.

There are two different dosage strengths. Selection of the appropriate dosage strength is determined according to patient body weight. Your doctor or your pharmacist will recommend the correct dose for you:

Allerject™ is not indicated for treating children weighing less than 15 kg (33 pounds). For children under 15 kg (33 pounds), talk to your doctor about using other forms of injectable epinephrine.

Storing and handling Allerject™

• Keep Allerject™ at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.
• Do not expose to direct sunlight.
• Do not store in a vehicle during extremely hot or cold weather.
• Do not drop.
• Keep it in the outer case until you need it.
• Occasionally inspect the solution through the viewing window. The solution should be clear. Replace Allerject™ if the solution is discoloured, contains particles, or there are any signs of leakage.
• Replace if damaged.
• Do not tamper with or dismantle the product.
• Replace before the expiry date or after use. Click here for the free expiry reminder service.
• Talk to your pharmacist or physician about proper disposal.

When to use Allerject™

If you are having a severe allergic reaction, use Allerject™ right away and then seek immediate medical attention.

If your symptoms persist, another dose may be required. That’s why you should always carry a second Allerject™.

Anaphylaxis can result in death if not treated immediately. Talk to your doctor about the warning signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and when to use Allerject™.

Allerject™ trainers

Allerject™ trainers are available with voice instructions in either English or French.

If you’d like to order a FREE trainer, click here.

When it should not be used

There are no absolute reasons for not using Allerject™ in a life-threatening allergic reaction. However, it is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any medical conditions and medications you take prior to using Allerject™.

Side effects and what to do about them

Patients with certain medical conditions, or who take certain medications, may get more or longer lasting side effects with Allerject^TM. This includes patients who take certain types of medicines for asthma, allergies, depression, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

• Patients with heart disease may feel chest pain (angina).
• Patients with mental disease or Parkinson’s disease may have worsening symptoms of their illness.
• Too much epinephrine (Allerject^TM) can cause dangerously high blood pressure, stroke, or death.

Other potential side effects include:

• Paleness
• Shaking
• Throbbing
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Tenseness
• Fear

Allerject™ (epinephrine) can also cause the following serious side effects (most of them usually decrease with rest):

• Difficulty breathing;
• Increased heart rate;
• Irregular or skipped heartbeats;
• Chest pain (angina) or
• Stroke symptoms (blurred vision, difficulty speaking, headache, dizziness, weakness).

Seek medical attention in all cases.

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking Allerject™ contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and precautions

BEFORE you obtain Allerject™, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about all of your medical conditions, especially if you:

• Have heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or high blood pressure
• Have diabetes
• Have thyroid conditions
• Have narrow-angle glaucoma
• Have depression or other mental disease
• Have Parkinson’s disease
• Have asthma
• Have previously had an allergic reaction
• Are pregnant or breast feeding
• Have any allergies to this drug, its ingredients or components of the container (See “When it should not be used” section)

Allerject™ remains the essential treatment for anaphylaxis even if you have the above conditions.

Interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every medicine you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Some medicines, especially those for asthma, may cause serious side effects if taken while using Allerject^TM.

Some medicines may affect how Allerject™ works or Allerject™ may affect how other medicines work.

Medications that may interact with Allerject™ include:

• Heart rhythm medicines, such as digoxin or quinidine (another name for digoxin is digitalis)
• Diuretic medicines ("water pills")
• MAO inhibitors (MAOI), such as selegilline, isocarboxazid, phenelzine sulfate, or tranylcypromine
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, doxepin, nortriptyline
• Antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine, tripelennamine, or diphenhydramine
• Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs (beta blockers), such as propranolol
• Alpha-adrenergic blocking drugs (alpha blockers), such as phentolamine
• Ergot alkaloids and phenothiazines
• Bronchodilators used for asthma, such as isoproterenol, orciprenaline, salbutamol and long-acting beta agonists (LABAs)
• Thyroid medications (e.g. sodium levothyroxine)
• Cocaine