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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffThe only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid peanuts and peanut proteins altogether. But peanuts are common, and despite your best efforts, you or your child is likely to come into contact with peanuts at some point.
While most reactions to peanuts are not life-threatening, it's important to be prepared for a severe reaction. For an anaphylactic reaction, an emergency injection of adrenaline (epinephrine) and a trip to the emergency room are necessary. If your doctor thinks you may be at risk of a severe reaction, you'll probably need to carry injectable epinephrine (EpiPen, Twinject) with you at all times.
Medications, such as antihistamines, may reduce the mild symptoms of peanut allergies. These drugs can be taken after exposure to peanuts to help relieve itching or hives. However, antihistamines are not sufficient to treat severe, life-threatening reactions.
