Angioedema is swelling of your face, lips, tongue, and throat. It is often caused by an allergic reaction . The swelling may get so bad that you can't breathe Angioedema can start suddenly and come and go for weeks or months depending on the cause Doctors may give you epinephrine and antihistamines to lessen your symptoms Go to the emergency room if you have swelling of your face or throat.

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What is angioedema?

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How do doctors treat angioedema?

Allergic Reactions and Other Hypersensitivity Disorders

Overview of Allergic Reactions

Anaphylactic Reactions

Angioedema

Hereditary and Acquired Angioedema

Autoimmune Diseases

Exercise-Induced Allergic Reactions

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Angioedema

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Last full review/revision Jan 2021| Content last modified Jan 2021

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Angioedema (Lips)

Angioedema is swelling of your face, lips, tongue, and throat. It is often caused by an allergic reaction.

The swelling may get so bad that you can't breathe
Angioedema can start suddenly and come and go for weeks or months depending on the cause
Doctors may give you epinephrine and antihistamines to lessen your symptoms

Go to the emergency room if you have swelling of your face or throat.

Angioedema may be your body’s reaction to:

Medicine, particularly a type of blood pressure medicine called an ACE inhibitor
Insect stings or bites
Allergy shots
Food, such as eggs, fish, nuts, and fruit

Angioedema may be caused by another health problem. It can also run in your family (hereditary angioedema).

Angioedema usually causes swelling in your face, lips, and tongue. Sometimes the inside of your mouth and throat swell up, making it hard to swallow or breathe. Your voice may sound hoarse.

Along with the swelling, you may also have these symptoms:

Hives that come and go (red, itchy, raised patches on the skin)
Feeling sick to your stomach, throwing up, or belly cramps

Doctors can tell based on your symptoms and by examining you. If doctors can’t find the cause, they’ll ask you questions, have you stop taking medicines you might be allergic to, and may do tests.

The most important thing is to keep your breathing passages open. If you're having trouble breathing, doctors may:

Put a breathing tube down your throat
Give you a shot of epinephrine

Other treatments depend on what doctors think caused your angioedema. Doctors may give you:

Antihistamines to lessen itching and swelling
Corticosteroids

If you have hereditary angioedema, there are special medicines doctors may give you by vein (IV).

Avoiding the cause of your angioedema can help prevent it in the future. If you have a severe reaction, you should always carry a shot of epinephrine and antihistamine pills with you to take in case you start to have another reaction. Then go to a hospital emergency room in case you need more treatment.

Generic Name	Select Brand Names
epinephrine	ADRENALIN

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Anaphylactic Reactions

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Hereditary and Acquired Angioedema

Angioedema

Hereditary and Acquired Angioedema

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