If you have spent years being told there are two adrenaline auto-injectors in Australia, brace yourself for a plot twist: there are now three. Jext® has landed, it is on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and it is quietly turning up in medicine cabinets, school sick bays and first aid kits across the country. So what exactly is a Jext, how do you use one, and does it change anything you already know? Let’s clear it up.
If you want the bird’s-eye view of everything shifting in the anaphylaxis world this year — including the arrival of needle-free adrenaline — our overview of what the 2026 ASCIA anaphylaxis update means for first aiders is the place to start. This guide zooms right in on the Jext device itself. It pairs neatly with knowing your emergency history-taking, like the SAMPLE acronym, because recognising anaphylaxis fast is half the battle.
What is a Jext?
A Jext is an adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injector — a single-use, pre-filled device that delivers one fixed dose of adrenaline into the muscle of the outer thigh. Adrenaline is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, the most severe form of allergic reaction, because it works fast to open the airways, support blood pressure and reverse the reaction while help is on the way.
In plain terms, it does the same essential job as an EpiPen. Same drug, same target (the outer mid-thigh), same purpose. What differs is the hardware: the shape of the device, the colour-coding, and the exact steps to fire it. Jext is made by ALK and distributed in Australia by Biocelect, and it is designed to be used by anyone — including people with no medical training and no steady hands, which is precisely the point when someone is struggling to breathe.
The name you will see on the box is either Jext or Jext Jnr, depending on the dose. More on that below.
Jext is new to Australia — here’s what that actually means
For years, the two adrenaline auto-injectors registered and available in Australia were EpiPen and Anapen. That changed at the end of 2025. Jext (300 microgram) and Jext Jnr (150 microgram) were registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration on 14 November 2025, added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and have since been listed on the PBS and rolled out through pharmacies nationally.
The practical upshot is simple but important: the adrenaline injector in front of you in an emergency might no longer be the one you trained on. A parent hands you a device at a birthday party, a colleague’s kit turns up a brand you have never seen, a relief educator opens the medicine box — and it is a Jext. Knowing there are now three devices in circulation, and that they do not all fire the same way, is the whole reason to keep your knowledge current.
None of this changes the golden rule. Adrenaline first, then call triple zero (000) for an ambulance, then follow the person’s ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis if they have one. ASCIA has already published a Jext-specific action plan, so the device is now a fully-fledged part of the Australian anaphylaxis toolkit.
How a Jext works
Jext uses a two-step design with a few thoughtful safety features. A yellow safety cap sits over the top and stops the device firing until you deliberately remove it. At the business end is a black tip that houses the needle. When you press it firmly against the thigh, a spring drives the needle out, delivers the dose, and — here is the reassuring part — the needle retracts and is hidden automatically when you remove the device. No exposed needle to worry about afterwards.
The colour-coding is deliberate: yellow for the cap you pull off, black for the end that goes against the leg. Get those two straight in your head and you are most of the way there. There is also a small viewing window so you can check the adrenaline solution looks clear and colourless before you rely on it.
If you or someone in your family has been prescribed a Jext, it is well worth getting a Jext Trainer Pen — a needle-free, adrenaline-free replica you can practise with as often as you like. Muscle memory built on a calm afternoon is what carries you through a chaotic ninety seconds.
How to use a Jext in an emergency
First, recognise what you are dealing with. Signs of anaphylaxis include difficult or noisy breathing, swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat, a hoarse voice or trouble talking, a persistent cough or wheeze, and persistent dizziness or collapse. In young children, going pale and floppy is a red flag. If you see these signs, do not wait and hope — give the adrenaline.
The step-by-step
- Form a fist around the Jext with the yellow cap at the top.
- Pull off the yellow cap with your other hand.
- Place the black tip against the outer mid-thigh, holding the device at a right angle (90°) to the leg. You can inject straight through clothing — just avoid seams, zips and anything in a pocket.
- Push the black tip firmly into the thigh until you hear or feel a ‘click’.
- Hold it firmly in place for 3 seconds, then remove it. The needle retracts and hides itself.
- Massage the injection site for about 10 seconds.
A quick word on that 3-second hold, because it trips people up. Older overseas Jext instructions said to hold for 10 seconds, and you may still find that figure floating around online. In Australia, the current device instructions and ASCIA guidance say 3 seconds — the same brief hold used for EpiPen. When brands disagree with the internet, follow the current Australian instructions on your device and your ASCIA action plan.
What to do straight after
Adrenaline buys time; it is not the finish line. The moment the dose is in, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Note the time you gave the injection. Lay the person flat with their legs raised if you can; if breathing is hard, let them sit up; if they are drowsy, vomiting or pregnant, roll them onto their side into the recovery position. Do not let them stand up or walk around, even if they suddenly feel better — standing after anaphylaxis can be dangerous.
If there is no improvement after 5 minutes, a second adrenaline injector can be given. This is exactly why people at risk are often advised to carry two devices, and why staff should know where the spare is kept. If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR.
When in doubt, give it
The single most common mistake with adrenaline is hesitation. If you are not sure whether it is a severe allergic reaction, use the injector anyway. Adrenaline given to someone who turns out not to need it rarely causes serious harm; adrenaline withheld from someone who does need it can be fatal. And if you cannot tell whether it is asthma or anaphylaxis, give the adrenaline first, then the asthma reliever. Erring on the side of action is the right call.
Jext doses: 150 versus 300
Jext comes in two strengths, and the difference is all about body weight:
Jext Jnr 150 micrograms is generally for children weighing roughly 15–30 kg, while Jext 300 micrograms is for anyone over about 30 kg — older children and adults. These weight bands are a guide only. Your doctor or pharmacist decides the right strength for the individual, and it will be written into the ASCIA action plan, so always go by what has been prescribed rather than doing mental arithmetic in an emergency.
You do not adjust the dose, split it, or give a ‘half’ — each device delivers one fixed amount and then it is spent. That simplicity is a feature: in a crisis, there are no decisions to make about how much, only whether and where.
Storing and looking after your Jext
Adrenaline is a fussy houseguest. Store your Jext below 25°C, keep it in its flip-top protective case, and protect it from light. Do not refrigerate or freeze it — cold damages the device just as surely as heat does. That means the glovebox of a car parked in the Port Macquarie sun in January is one of the worst places you could leave it.
Check the viewing window from time to time. The solution should be clear and colourless. If it looks cloudy, discoloured or has bits floating in it, replace the device and do not rely on it. Adrenaline auto-injectors also have a relatively short shelf life — typically only a year or two — so note the expiry date and replace the device before it lapses, not after. Jext offers a free Expiry Alert Service that reminds you when the clock is running down, which is a small thing that quietly prevents a very bad day.
Most importantly, a Jext that is safe at home in a drawer helps no one. Carry it — every outing, every time. The kit that saves a life is the one that is actually in the bag.
Jext vs EpiPen: what’s the difference?
All three are adrenaline auto-injectors that treat anaphylaxis by delivering adrenaline into the outer mid-thigh, and all three are held in place for a few seconds before being removed. The differences are in how you arm and fire each one — which is exactly why muddling them up under pressure is a real risk.
| Step | Jext | EpiPen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| To arm | Pull off the yellow cap | Pull off the blue safety release | |
| Business end | Black tip against the thigh | Orange end against the thigh | |
| To fire | Push the black tip in until it clicks | Push the orange end in until it clicks | |
| Hold time | 3 seconds | 3 seconds | |
| After use | Needle shield covers needle | Needle shield covers needle |
Notice the trap: with an EpiPen the ‘never put your thumb on the end’ rule is about the orange tip. With Jext it is the yellow cap and black tip. The safe habit is to read the device in your hand rather than assume it behaves like the one you practised on last year. When in doubt, follow the instructions that are printed on the device itself.
Why this matters on the Mid North Coast
Anaphylaxis does not check the map before it strikes, and out here help is not always around the corner. An ambulance reaching a childcare centre in Wauchope, a worksite outside Taree or a sporting event at Forster/Tuncurry can take longer than it would in a capital city. In those minutes, the person beside the patient — the educator, the coach, the workmate, you — is the treatment. That is the whole reason bystander skills matter so much on the Mid North Coast.
Early learning services already have to be ready for this. Under the national quality framework overseen by ACECQA, services must manage anaphylaxis risk and have staff trained to respond, which is why child care first aid training spends real time on auto-injectors. With Jext now in circulation alongside EpiPen, ‘we did the EpiPen once’ is no longer enough — staff, parents and volunteers benefit from hands-on practice with whatever device a family actually carries.
Cafes, schools, sporting clubs and busy worksites are all places where a severe reaction can happen without warning. The good news is that the skill is genuinely learnable in an afternoon, and it sticks far better when you have physically held a trainer device and gone through the steps yourself.
Get confident with anaphylaxis first aid
Here is the thing about everything you have just read: understanding how a Jext works is a fine start, but knowing and doing are worlds apart. When someone’s airway is closing and the clock is running, confidence comes from having physically done it before — not from having skimmed an article once. Information is the map; hands-on practice is actually knowing the road.
That is exactly what our nationally recognised first aid and CPR training gives you. In our Provide First Aid course you will handle trainer auto-injectors, practise the steps until they feel automatic, and get walked through the differences between Jext and EpiPen by trainers who do this every day. Local? Join a first aid course in Port Macquarie or first aid training in Taree.
So do not leave it on the to-do list. Take a look at our upcoming course dates and enrol in a course today — your future self, standing calm in an emergency, will thank you. Running a childcare centre, school, club or workplace? Get in touch about workplace or group training and we will bring the session to your team.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jext available in Australia?
Yes. Jext (300 microgram) and Jext Jnr (150 microgram) were registered by the TGA on 14 November 2025 and are now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and available through Australian pharmacies. It joins EpiPen as a second adrenaline auto-injector option.
Do I need a prescription for Jext?
Jext is available from pharmacies with a prescription, and on the PBS for people assessed as being at risk of anaphylaxis. In some cases it can also be supplied without a prescription as part of a formal anaphylaxis action plan provided by a health practitioner. Speak with your GP or pharmacist about what is right for you and to set up an ASCIA action plan.
How long do you hold a Jext in place?
In Australia, push the black tip firmly into the outer mid-thigh until it clicks, then hold it in place for 3 seconds before removing it and massaging the area. Some older overseas instructions say 10 seconds — follow the current Australian instructions on your device and your ASCIA action plan.
Can you use a Jext through clothing?
Yes. A Jext can be injected through light clothing into the outer mid-thigh. Avoid seams, zips and anything in a pocket, and never delay giving adrenaline just to remove clothing.
What is the difference between Jext and EpiPen?
They contain the same drug (adrenaline) and are used the same way — into the outer mid-thigh, held briefly, then removed. The mechanics differ: Jext has a yellow cap and a black tip and its needle retracts automatically after use, while an EpiPen has a blue safety release and an orange tip and its needle stays exposed. Because the steps are not identical, it is worth practising with whichever device you carry.
How often should I replace my Jext?
Replace JEXT by the expiry date or earlier. Also replace it if the solution looks cloudy or discoloured. Jext’s free Expiry Alert Service can remind you when yours is due.
