Immediate medication in case of severe allergic reactions is the utmost priority of health care providers. Some people have severe cases of allergic reactions to certain foods or conditions causing an anaphylactic shock. Such scenarios are detrimental and can even be fatal. Hence, an immediate self-medication system like an autoinjector has saved many lives. This medication system has seen an increasing rise as a prescribed treatment due to the ease of use and controlled dosage management.
What Is An Autoinjector?
An autoinjector is a device that delivers a controlled amount of drug into the patient’s body. The device is targeted towards self-medication in case of emergency scenarios. For example, when a person goes into anaphylactic shock, the response time to prevent it from being fatal is just a few minutes. Therefore, a medication system that can assist the patient in consuming the proper dosage of drugs outside the hospital was needed.
It is a slim pen-like device with a needle, drug dosage, and spring for delivery. The device uses pressure force as the trigger to release the drug into the body. The most common drug administered is Epinephrine to control allergic reactions. However, self-administered treatments for multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, and cluster headaches are also prevalent.
Why Is Autoinjector Use On The Rise?
These devices have been in use widely since 2006. Multiple reasons are promoting their use in the medical fraternity.
- Uncertainty of the medical condition
Allergic reactions are medical conditions that may hit at any given time. Preventing the uneventful outcome of manageable conditions is the reason for devising a reliable medication system. Usually, the patient has little time to act on the reaction, and contacting a medical team to supervise the treatment isn’t viable.
- Inconsistency of treatment
Non-adherence to treatment, like in the case of diabetes and anemia, can have serious complications. Having an assisted medication routine is not practically convenient for the patients in their day-to-day life. Young patients tend to deflect from treatment resulting in deteriorating health. Self-assisted medication system has made it more practical for patients to take in their doses regularly and in a more monitored way.
- Limited medical assistance
Self-medication has a high demand in the military. Carrying out missions with a medical team is not a feasible option. Hence, empowering military personnel with self-aids and self-medication drugs has proved to be beneficial. Maintaining their health and providing necessary treatment within the time limit is crucial.
- Unavailability of the medical team
The number of patients seeking treatment often outnumbers medical supervisors. Self-medication can relieve the medical system from additional strain to provide a faster response time.
- Ensure safety and compliance of medication
The self-medication devices are built to provide safe use and control the dosage consumption of patients.
Conclusion
A self-administered medication system has come a long way since the early 2000s. They continue to evolve with new technology and features. It benefits both patients and supervisors in managing their medical condition without an upheaving reaction.
