HAE self-injection guide: How to do it safely
Last updated April 15, 2025, by Agata Boxe
Fact-checked by Patrícia Silva, PhD
Living with hereditary angioedema (HAE) can make you feel like you’re always worrying about HAE attacks — episodes of rapid, severe swelling that can affect any part of the body. So, knowing how to self-administer an injection of HAE medication may be helpful for preventing and addressing these attacks.
The thought of injecting yourself — or someone else, if you are a caregiver — can admittedly be intimidating or even scary. But with the proper preparation and training, you can learn how to inject HAE medications. Being able to do this can play a vital role in managing HAE at home.
What is self-administration?
Self-administration involves injecting HAE medication on your own without going to a medical facility.
It is a key part of HAE treatment that allows you to possibly prevent or treat an HAE attack. Effectively addressing your symptoms can feel empowering and may help make living with the disease less stressful.
To better manage your condition, you can use self-administered injections as prescribed along with other types of HAE treatment options at home. This can include tracking and avoiding triggers such as stress.
Medical training and preparation
Before you inject any HAE medication by yourself or for the individual for whom you care, your healthcare provider should teach you how to give or self-administer the treatment safely and correctly.
You should first practice self-injection under a provider’s supervision. That clinician should instruct you on how to follow injection hygiene, and how to store the medication and any accompanying equipment.
You should also know what to do if you or the person for whom you care experience an unexpected reaction to the medication. For example, you or your charge may have side effects such as fever, nausea, and bruising or swelling at the injection site.
Needle phobias
Some people have needle phobia or intense fear of needles, which can make it very difficult or even impossible for them to self-inject. (Fainting before or after an injection is a common symptom of the phobia.)
If you are afraid of needles, tell your doctor and ask for advice. Your clinician may recommend a therapist who specializes in exposure therapy, which helps people face their phobia triggers gradually, with the goal of eventually overcoming their fear.
Do you need a medical professional present?
Self-injection can generally be done without medical supervision after you have been trained. The medications have been designed to be injected safely and easily. Most will also come with an injection guide that explains how to use the medication at home.
If you still don’t feel confident after training, ask a nurse or a doctor to help you with the first few injections. Your caregiver can also be trained in administering HAE medications if you don’t feel comfortable doing it.
It is always best to ask your health provider for guidance on administration — whether by yourself or your caregiver — and report any concerns or issues to them.
How to self-inject safely
Your healthcare provider should walk you through self-injecting safely. You may need to learn two types of injections: subcutaneous and intravenous. Subcutaneous injection for HAE involves injecting medication into the fatty tissue layer beneath the skin. Intravenous administration, which delivers the medication directly into the blood, is when you inject into a vein.
The general steps to self-administering injections for HAE should always follow the same key steps:
- preparing the injection
- administering it
- safely disposing of the used equipment
- monitoring for unexpected reactions.
All of these steps should be done based on the instructions provided by your doctor.
Materials required
In addition to your medication, your healthcare provider may recommend other items to have at home, such as:
- sterile alcohol pads and/or antiseptic wipes to disinfect the puncture site before self-injection
- adhesive bandages to cover the injection site
- puncture-proof containers to safely dispose of needles.
Medications that can be self-administered
Injectable medications for HAE comprise those that can prevent attacks, known as prophylactic therapies, and those for self-treatment for HAE flare-ups, called on-demand therapies.
As one example, C1-esterase inhibitor injections can treat acute angioedema attacks. They are injected intravenously when needed at the beginning of an HAE attack. This type of treatment can also be used — intravenously or subcutaneously — as a prophylactic to prevent HAE attacks.
Remember to always consult your doctor for training, advice, and HAE injection safety details before you begin self-administration. With the right information and guidance, you should start to feel more in control of your HAE.
Angioedema News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
