Safe Travel for People at Risk for Anaphylaxis

Safe travel when there is a risk of anaphylaxis is a concern anytime for people who have known, severe allergies, typically to wasps and bees. Choosing the right Epi-Pen for emergency treatment is something you want to have discussed with your doctor long before your trip. And there are other steps you can take to reduce your risk.

Emergency workers used to be taught that when someone shows signs of anaphylaxis, they should get one injection of epinephrine ("adrenaline") and then an oral antihistamine like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) until they can be transported to an emergency room.

The problem is, the first Epi-Pen injection does not always take. There can be variabilities in muscle tension, the allergy victim can be dehydrated so the medicine does not circulate as quickly, or the allergy might be so severe that the first injection does not bring it under control before the oral antihistamine begins to work.

You can ask you doctor about the use of a new product called the Twinject. It is two epinephrine injections in a single package, enough to control a severe allergic reaction long enough for oral medications to begin to work. Under wilderness conditions, in unusual heat or travel causing hydration, it just may be a lifesaver.

Something you can do to lower the likelihood of an anaphylactic reaction in an emergency involves, interestingly enough, green tea. The combination of caffeine and catechins in green tea (and green tea extract supplements) slow down the process by which the body breaks down and eliminates epinephrine, keeping it in circulation at levels that make anaphylaxis very slightly (but measurably) less likely. You need to drink green tea on a regular basis, not to try to take it an emergency (something you absolutely should not do).

Similarly, making sure you do not suffer a vitamin C deficiency also lowers the risk of anaphylactic reactions to allergy. As little as 500 mg of vitamin C taken once a day, especially at the beginning of your trip, may prevent allergy and blunt the severe reactions that can lead to anaphylaxis.