This article describes epinephrine injection’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how it’s given. You’ll also find information on savings and coupon options for epinephrine. If you want to know more about epinephrine injection, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.
Epinephrine injection given into a muscle or under the skin is a generic version of the brand-name drugs EpiPen and EpiPen Jr. Epinephrine injection given into a vein is also a generic medication, but it’s not available in a brand-name version. Epinephrine also comes in an eye drop, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about that form, talk with your doctor.
Forms and strengths of epinephrine
Epinephrine comes in the forms and strengths listed in the table below. The strengths are in milligrams (mg) and milliliters (mL).
| Form | Where it’s injected | Strengths |
| injection | into a muscle or under the skin | • 0.15 mg • 0.3 mg |
| injection | into a vein* | • 1 mg/10 mL (0.1 mg/mL) • 1 mg/mL |
* A healthcare professional gives the injection into a vein. This is an intravenous infusion.
Dosage of epinephrine
This article describes the recommended dosages for epinephrine injection. The drugmaker provides these dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of epinephrine injection without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of epinephrine in adults
Epinephrine injection is approved to treat severe allergic reaction. It’s also approved to increase low blood pressure due to septic shock.
Dosage for severe allergic reaction
The following table presents the recommended dosages of epinephrine injection for severe allergic reaction in adults. For this use, doctors prescribe epinephrine injection to be given into a muscle or under the skin.
To determine the correct dosage, doctors calculate a person’s body weight in kilograms (kg). (For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).) Dosages are in milligrams (mg).
| Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage |
| 15–29 kg | 33–65 lb | 0.15 mg as a single dose |
| 30 kg or more | 66 lb or more | 0.3 mg as a single dose |
Each injection contains one dose. If symptoms of a severe allergic reaction continue or come back, you may use a second injection. The maximum dose is two injections.
Dosage for low blood pressure due to septic shock
Below is the recommended dosage of epinephrine injection for low blood pressure due to septic shock in adults. Ultimately, your doctor will determine the correct dosage for your condition. The abbreviations represent micrograms (mcg), kilograms (kg), and minutes (min).
- 0.05–2 mcg/kg/min* (mcg per kg per min)
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
For example, assume a person weighs 100 kg (approximately 220 lb). If their doctor prescribes an epinephrine dosage of 1 mcg/kg/min, they’d receive 100 mcg/min.
For this use, doctors prescribe epinephrine injection to be given into a vein. A healthcare professional gives this injection, which is called an intravenous infusion.
Dosage of epinephrine in children
Epinephrine injection is approved to treat severe allergic reaction in children of all ages. For this use, doctors prescribe epinephrine injection to be given into a muscle or under the skin. The recommended dosage is based on the child’s body weight, as noted in the table below.
To determine the correct dosage, doctors calculate a child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). (For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds [lb].) Dosages are in milligrams (mg).
| Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Recommended dosage |
| 15–29 kg | 33–65 lb | 0.15 mg as a single dose |
| 30 kg or more | 66 lb or more | 0.3 mg as a single dose |
Each injection contains one dose. If symptoms of a severe allergic reaction continue or come back, you may use a second injection. The maximum dose is two injections.
If your child weighs less than 15 kg, they likely will need to be taken to an emergency room for an injection into a vein. Dosing instructions don’t provide dosages for children who weigh less than 15 kg. Talk with your child’s doctor to learn more about this.
Dosage adjustments for epinephrine
When used for low blood pressure due to septic shock, your doctor will prescribe a dosage of epinephrine injection based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your age
- other health conditions you may have
- other medications you use
Frequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about epinephrine injection and its dosage.
How does the dosage of epinephrine compare with the dosage of norepinephrine?
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are approved to increase low blood pressure. But epinephrine increases low blood pressure caused by septic shock. And norepinephrine is approved to increase extremely low blood pressure.
Both drugs come in an injection form given into a vein by intravenous infusion. But the dosage of epinephrine is based on weight.
The following table contains the recommended dosages of both drugs. Abbreviations represent micrograms (mcg), kilograms (kg), and minutes (min).
| Drug | Purpose | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|---|
| epinephrine | increase blood pressure due to septic shock | • 0.05–2 mcg/kg/min* (mcg per kg per min) |
| norepinephrine | increase extremely low blood pressure | • initial dosage: 8–12 mcg/min (mcg per min) • maintenance dosage:† 2–4 mcg/min |
* For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
† A maintenance dosage is what you’ll use throughout your treatment, usually after an initial dosage.
For example, assume a person weighs 100 kg (approximately 220 lb). If their doctor prescribes an epinephrine dosage of 1 mcg/kg/min, they’d receive 100 mcg/min.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about the uses or dosages of either drug.
Is epinephrine used long term?
No, doctors don’t typically prescribe epinephrine injection as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s usually recommended to be used only when needed.
If you have questions about how long you should use epinephrine injection, talk with your doctor.
How epinephrine is used
To treat severe allergic reaction, you’ll inject epinephrine into the middle part of your outer thigh. Specifically, you’ll inject it into a muscle or under the skin. If needed, you can inject it through clothing. For more details, read the Instructions for Use in the prescribing information.
Note: You should not inject the medication into your veins, buttocks, fingers, hands, or feet. Doing so may affect how the medication works and cause serious side effects.
To treat low blood pressure due to septic shock, your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you your epinephrine injection.
Epinephrine coupon
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for epinephrine when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on some prescription medications.
