Some individuals carry their own medication that has been prescribed by their doctor (e.g., an inhaler for asthma). If an individual needs to take their own prescribed medication, the first-aider's role is generally limited to helping them to do so and contacting the emergency services as appropriate
Adrenaline / epi-pen is a prescription only medication (POM) – they can therefore only be obtained by the individual following consultation with a physician. They are meant for self-treatment. However, there is an exemption to this restriction, which means in an emergency a layperson is permitted to administer it by injection for the purpose of saving life
As giving adrenaline is a serious intervention, those doing so must be confident that they understand when it should be given (i.e., they can recognise the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis) and they know how to use it – various online training courses are available
Epi-pens should be kept in a secure location and at room temperature – they have a shelf-life marked on them, so check they are ‘in date’ beforehand, although never withhold potential life-saving treatment for this reason