Which medication should you assist with for a person experiencing anaphylaxis?

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $4.99 payment

Prepare for The American Red Cross CPR Test. Engage with interactive flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations, to ensure readiness for your certification!

For a person experiencing anaphylaxis, the appropriate medication to assist with is epinephrine. Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, and a rapid drop in blood pressure. Epinephrine is a hormone that acts quickly to counteract these dangerous effects.

Epinephrine works by constricting blood vessels, which helps to increase blood pressure and reduce swelling. Additionally, it relaxes the muscles in the airways, making it easier for the person to breathe. This medication is typically administered via an auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) and is the first-line treatment during anaphylactic emergencies. Timely administration of epinephrine can dramatically improve the outcome for the affected individual.

In contrast, other options such as ibuprofen, diphenhydramine, and aspirin are not effective for treating anaphylactic reactions. Ibuprofen is a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, but it does not address the underlying issues of anaphylaxis. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine that can help with allergic reactions, but it acts more slowly than epinephrine and is not sufficient to treat severe anaphylaxis. Aspirin