What medication is administered for anaphylaxis?

Epinephrine is the medication of choice for the treatment of anaphylaxis due to its rapid action in counteracting severe allergic reactions. Anaphylaxis is characterized by the sudden onset of symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swelling, and a drop in blood pressure, which can be life-threatening. Epinephrine acts as a vasoconstrictor, helping to restore blood pressure and increase blood flow to vital organs. It also relaxes airway muscles, making it easier for the patient to breathe.

While antihistamines can help alleviate some symptoms of allergic reactions, they are not sufficient in life-threatening cases like anaphylaxis because they do not act quickly enough to reverse the severe respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms. Aspirin is mainly used for pain relief and anti-inflammatory purposes, and it does not have a role in treating anaphylaxis. Atropine is primarily used to increase heart rate in specific medical conditions and is not indicated in addressing the complications of anaphylaxis. Thus, epinephrine is the critical intervention needed to treat this acute and severe allergic reaction effectively.