Angioedema: What to Watch For and What to Do

Angioedema can show up fast and sometimes seriously. It’s swelling under the skin, often around the eyes, lips, tongue, or throat. If the throat swells you may have trouble breathing. That’s an emergency.

Common causes include allergic reactions to foods, insect stings, or medicines. ACE inhibitors and some NSAIDs like ibuprofen can trigger angioedema for some people. Hereditary angioedema is genetic and works differently: swelling comes from a protein imbalance, not an allergy. Knowing which type you have changes how you treat it.

Early home steps matter. Stop exposure to any suspected trigger. For mild allergic swelling, oral antihistamines like cetirizine or diphenhydramine can reduce swelling and itching. Cold packs applied to the area often help with pain and visible swelling. Avoid tight jewelry or clothing on the swollen area. Watch breathing and voice changes closely.

When to call for help. Seek emergency care if swelling affects the tongue, throat, or breathing. Call emergency services if you feel tightness in the chest, wheeze, severe dizziness, or lightheadedness. Use epinephrine right away if someone is having full anaphylaxis and you have an auto-injector. Don’t wait to see if symptoms improve.

Medical options your doctor may use include stronger antihistamines, corticosteroids, and epinephrine for severe reactions. For hereditary angioedema, specialized medicines like C1 inhibitor concentrates or bradykinin blockers are often needed. Your doctor will pick treatment based on cause and how fast symptoms started.

Preventing repeat episodes helps a lot. If a drug caused the swelling, stop it and tell your doctor. Carry an allergy ID and, if prescribed, an epinephrine auto-injector. For hereditary cases, discuss a long-term plan with a specialist. Keep a simple record of what you ate, medicines you took, and exposures before each attack. That log can help your doctor find the trigger.

On this site we have related reads that can help. If you want to learn about drug reactions, see our Nurofen guide about ibuprofen safety. For allergy sprays and options, check Flonase vs Nasacort and the Astelin nasal spray article. Those pieces explain how allergy meds work and when they help —but none replace emergency care for angioedema.

Common triggers and clues

Common triggers include foods like peanuts and shellfish, insect stings, latex, and dental or cosmetic procedures. Drugs that cause angioedema often include ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril and ramipril, and some NSAIDs. Allergic angioedema usually starts within minutes to hours. Hereditary attacks may begin slowly and last longer.

How to prepare and what to carry

Carry an epinephrine auto-injector if prescribed, and keep antihistamines handy. Wear a medical ID that notes angioedema or severe drug allergy. Share your allergy list with pharmacists and clinicians. Make a simple action plan with phone numbers and a step-by-step response you and family can follow.

Quick practical checklist: Stop the trigger. Take antihistamine for mild cases. Use epinephrine for severe reactions. Seek emergency care for breathing problems. Follow up with your doctor and document triggers.

If you’ve had angioedema before, get a clear plan from your doctor. That plan can keep a scary attack from becoming life threatening.