When to worry about swollen lips with angioedema

Angioedema is swelling deeper in the skin and can affect the lips, eyelids, face, tongue, hands, feet, or genital area. It may occur with hives and itching, or without them. Triggers include foods, medicines, insect exposure, infection, and inherited or unexplained patterns. The location and speed of swelling matter because swelling inside the mouth or throat can narrow the airway.

Stop and record any newly started medicine or suspected exposure, but do not stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice unless emergency clinicians tell you to. Use an emergency injector if one has been prescribed and follow your action plan. Do not rely on home observation when mouth, tongue, or throat symptoms are developing. Keep a note of timing and associated symptoms for the clinician.

Call emergency services immediately for noisy breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, difficulty swallowing, voice change, tongue swelling, dizziness, faintness, confusion, or rapidly worsening symptoms. Seek prompt medical review for recurrent lip swelling, swelling after a medicine, abdominal pain or vomiting with an episode, or episodes without an obvious trigger. Even when swelling settles, recurrent attacks need a prevention plan.

Ask whether your pattern suggests an allergic or non-allergic trigger, which medicines may contribute, whether you need an emergency plan, and when to use prescribed rescue treatment.