Jext

What is Jext?

Jext is an emergency treatment for severe life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock). It’s used to treat severe allergic reactions to food, exercise, insect stings and drugs.

The common symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include itching, flushing, swelling of the lips and shortness of breath. In severe cases vomiting and loss of consciousness can occur.

Jext contains a single shot of adrenaline that’s injected into the outer thigh. It should be used as soon as the first signs of an allergic reaction start. The adrenaline in Jext gives you the time to call for medical help.

How does Jext work?

When someone is exposed to an allergen such as nuts, a bee sting or penicillin, their body will start to protect itself from the danger posed by the allergen.

During an allergic reaction the body releases histamines into the blood. Histamines cause the blood vessels in the body to expand, and this causes blood pressure to drop.

A drop in blood pressure means that not enough oxygen is being carried around the body and to the cells that need it. This lack of oxygen causes shortness of breath, dizziness and can lead to a person losing consciousness. If the body is deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period of time, the brain and heart can become damaged.

Jext contains adrenaline. When injected, adrenaline reverses the effects of anaphylaxis by opening the airways and helping to stabilise blood pressure.

What doses of Jext are there?

Jext is available for adults in one dosage size of 300 micrograms. This is the amount of adrenaline inside each Jext pen.

For most adults, a single dose of 300 micrograms is enough to treat anaphylactic shock, but some people need to use more than a single dose if they are experiencing a severe reaction to an allergen.

If your symptoms do not stop after 5-15 minutes, another Jext pen should be used to deliver a further shot of adrenaline to treat the allergic reaction.

It’s a good idea to carry two Jext pens with you at any one time. For this reason, they’re often prescribed in pairs.

There’s also a junior dose of Jext available for children, but this is not currently available through our service.

How to use Jext

You should administer Jext as soon as you feel the first symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. Jext will give you time to call for medical assistance.

To use Jext:

• hold the pen in your dominant hand with your thumb closest to the yellow cap
• pull off the yellow cap with your free hand
• place the black injector tip against the top of your outer thigh
• push the black tip firmly into your thigh until you hear it click
• hold the pen in place for 10 seconds
• remove the pen
• massage the injection area for 10 seconds
• call 999 for emergency medical attention

If symptoms do not stop after 5-15 minutes, repeat the same steps with a new pen.

How long does it take Jext to work?

Jext is an emergency treatment that should start working within minutes to relieve symptoms after administration.^[3] If after 5 minutes your symptoms haven’t subsided (or have worsened), you should administer a second dose.

Adrenaline is the recommended first choice treatment for anaphylaxis, and early use of adrenaline in anaphylaxis is linked to improved outcomes for patients.^[1]

Jext is designed to give you the time to seek medical assistance after experiencing anaphylactic shock.

What should I do if I make a mistake when using Jext?

Most mistakes when using Jext happen because people are unaware of how to inject adrenaline safely.^[2]

It’s important that you have a good routine in place for using your Jext in an emergency situation. It’s also highly recommended that you carry two Jext pens in case one shot of adrenaline is not sufficient during an emergency situation.

If you accidentally inject yourself with too much Jext you should seek medical help immediately.

Your blood pressure may rise sharply and you may experience an irregular heartbeat which can feel like a fluttering sensation in your chest. In some cases, an accumulation of fluid on the lungs can also occur.

If you accidentally inject Jext into your hand or fingers you may experience coldness, bruising and pain. In some cases breathing may be difficult.

You must seek medical attention and explain that you have injected adrenaline.

It’s important to make sure that you replace your pen if you use it by mistake, so that you’ve got two available in an emergency situation.