Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that needs to be treated right away. If you have an anaphylactic reaction, you need an epinephrine ...MenuNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersMedicationsFindanAllergistOverview&FactsSymptoms&TypesDiagnosis&TestsTreatment&CareWhatIsAnaphylaxis?DiagnosisWhenToUseYourAuto-InjectorAllergiesorCold?AllergyMapAllergyReliefAdvisorChildren'sAllergiesEyeAllergiesCold&FluMapSkinAllergiesFoodAllergiesAsthmaDrugInteractionCheckerSevereAllergiesMoreRelatedTopicsAllergiesA-ZAllergiesReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyCarolDerSarkissian, MDonJune14,2020ArticlesOnAnaphylaxis-SevereAllergicReactionWhatIsAnaphylaxis?DiagnosisWhenToUseYourAuto-InjectorAnaphylaxisisasevereallergicreactionthatneedstobetreatedrightaway.Ifyouhaveananaphylacticreaction,youneedanepinephrine(adrenaline)shotassoonaspossible,andsomeoneshouldcall911foremergencymedicalhelp.Leftuntreated,itcanbedeadly.Epinephrinecanreversethesymptomswithinminutes.Ifthisdoesn'thappen,youmayneedasecondshotwithinhalfanhour.Theseshots,whichyouneedaprescriptiontoget,comepre-filledandinready-to-usepens.Youshouldn’ttakeanantihistamineforananaphylacticreaction.Anaphylaxisisrare,andmostpeoplerecoverfromit.Butit'simportanttotellyourdoctoraboutanydrugallergiesyouhavebeforeanykindofmedicaltreatment,includingdentalcare.It’salsoagoodideatowearamedicalalertbraceletorpendantorcarryacardwithinformationaboutyourallergy.Ifyou'vehadananaphylacticreactionbefore,youhaveahigherriskofhavinganotherone.Youalsohaveahigherriskifyouhaveafamilyhistoryofanaphylaxisorhaveasthma.SymptomsThefirstsignsofananaphylacticreactionmaylookliketypicalallergysymptoms:arunnynoseoraskinrash.Butwithinabout30minutes,moreserioussignsappear.Thereisusuallymorethanoneofthese:Coughing;wheezing;andpain,itching,ortightnessinyourchestFainting,dizziness,confusion,orweaknessHives;arash;anditchy,swollen,orredskinRunnyorstuffynoseandsneezingShortnessofbreathortroublebreathingandrapidheartbeatSwollenoritchylipsortongueSwollenoritchythr