EpiPen and steroids

[cornishstokey]

Just wondering if an EpiPen will still work when taking steroids for GCA. I understand that steroids stop the adrenal glands from working and EpiPen is Adrenalin.

[piglette]

Because the steroids do the work of the adrenal glands, the adrenal glands do not bother to work, as enough Adrenalin is being produced anyway, basically they are being lazy as something else is doing the work for them. As you decrease the steroids they then have to 'wake up' again much to their annoyance!! Using an Epipen is fine as it is doing a similar job to the steroids, although steroids cannot replace an Epipen they can support it.

[cornishstokey in reply to piglette]

Thank you.

[SnazzyD]

Your Epipen should be fine. As I understand it, Epinephrine is made by the medulla part of the adrenal gland and cortisol is made in the cortex part of the gland. Pred primarily affects the cortex and it is this part that is affected by long term Pred and is suppressed, giving you low cortisol not low adrenaline.

The shot of Epinephrine (adrenaline) has other effects to cortisol such as causing vasoconstriction which helps with the rapid loss of blood pressure during anaphylaxis. Your epipen is not reliant on the adrenal glands to work anyway as it is just giving you an extra shot of epinephrine as if it was already made and its effect is temporary.

[cornishstokey in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

Very good reply Snazzy!!!