Anaphylactic shock is a rare but severe allergic reaction that can be deadly if you don't treat it right away. It's most often caused by an ...MenuNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersMedicationsFindanAllergistOverview&FactsSymptoms&TypesDiagnosis&TestsTreatment&CareAllergiesorCold?AllergyMapAllergyReliefAdvisorChildren'sAllergiesEyeAllergiesCold&FluMapSkinAllergiesFoodAllergiesAsthmaDrugInteractionCheckerSevereAllergiesMoreRelatedTopicsAllergiesA-ZAllergiesReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyJenniferRobinson, MDonOctober29,2020InthisArticleSymptomsLife-SavingTreatmentTypicalTriggersWaystoPreventAnaphylacticShockAnaphylacticshockisararebutsevereallergicreactionthatcanbedeadlyifyoudon'ttreatitrightaway.It'smostoftencausedbyanallergytofood,insectbites,orcertainmedications.Ashotofadrugcalledepinephrineisneededimmediately,andyoushouldcall911foremergencymedicalhelp.Theterms"anaphylaxis"and"anaphylacticshock"areoftenusedtomeanthesamething.Theybothrefertoasevereallergicreaction.Shockiswhenyourbloodpressuredropssolowthatyourcells(andorgans)don'tgetenoughoxygen.Anaphylacticshockisshockthat'scausedbyanaphylaxis.SymptomsYoutypicallynoticethefirstsymptomswithin15minutesofcomingintocontactwiththethingyou'reallergicto.Theymaystartoutmild,likearunnynoseoranuneasyfeeling.Buttheycangetmuchworseveryfast.Sometypicalsymptomsinclude:SwellingofyourmouthTightfeelinginyourthroatanddifficultybreathingHivesVomitingDizzinessFaintingRapidheartbeatInseverecases,peoplecollapse,stopbreathing,andloseconsciousnessinjustacoupleofminutes.Life-SavingTreatmentAshotofepinephrineinyourthighisneededrightaway,andyoushouldcall911becauseyou'reatriskforasecondreaction(calledabiphasicreaction)within12hours.Attheemergencyroom,doctorscankeepaneyeonyoursymptomsandtreatyouincaseofasecondreaction.Ifyoudon'thaveepinephrine,emergencyroomdoctorscansaveyourlife.They'llputashotofepinephrineunderyourskinorinamuscleorvein.Usuallythisgetsyourbloodpressure,whichdropsduringanaphylacticshock,backtonormal.You'llals