Some good news has arrived for those who suffer from severe and life-threatening allergies.
It’s estimated that anaphylaxis occurs in roughly one in 50 Americans, and some say the rate is even higher, probably closer to one in 20.
Between 1.6 and 5.1% of the U.S. population have experienced anaphylaxis.
The first treatment recommended for anaphylaxis is a shot of epinephrine, which can provide immediate relief.
The typical way of delivering a dose of epinephrine is an EpiPen, a brand name for an auto-injector that delivers a measured dose of the vital hormone.
The product, however, has not been without controversy. In 2016, the manufacturer caused public outrage by raising the price of its EpiPen, relied upon almost exclusively by severe allergy sufferers, from $100 to $600.
The New York Times reports on a new FDA-approved method of delivering epinephrine which may offer some hope for those who hesitate to inject themselves with an EpiPen. Here’s the start of the story:
Dr. Michael Blaiss, an allergist at the Medical College of Georgia, was often surprised by how hesitant his patients were to use their auto-injectors, syringe-like devices like the EpiPen that deliver a drug needed to head off potentially fatal allergic reactions.
Some patients called his office, on the verge of shock, to double-check that it was necessary to give themselves the shot. Others told him they would rather wait in the emergency room parking lot to “see what happens.”
Children suffering dangerous reactions sometimes ran away from their parents, terrified of the needle. One Tom-and-Jerry-like chase ended with a father getting mistakenly injected, Dr. Blaiss recalled.
A new device recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration may help quell some of the anxiety. The device, Neffy, administers epinephrine, the drug in the EpiPen, through a nasal spray rather than a needle.
“We have needed this for so long,” Dr. Blaiss said. “I truly believe it will save lives.”