Beyond the Needle: Promoting Prompt Anaphylaxis Treatment

A panelist discusses how anaphylaxis should be defined and treated promptly with epinephrine, highlighting the concerning statistic that not all patients who experience anaphylaxis receive this critical first-line treatment.

A panelist discusses how epinephrine is definitively the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis regardless of severity, emphasizing that delayed administration is associated with poor outcomes, including abnormal vital signs and increased risk of hospitalization.

A panelist discusses how patient uncertainty about when to administer epinephrine and reluctance to use autoinjectors are major barriers to timely treatment, with over 40% not filling their prescriptions and 55% to 60% not consistently carrying their devices.

A panelist discusses how current guidance has evolved to no longer require emergency department visits for all epinephrine uses, particularly when patients experience prompt and complete resolution of symptoms after administration.

A panelist discusses how the newly FDA-approved intranasal epinephrine (Neffy) delivers blood concentrations and physiological responses comparable or superior to traditional intramuscular epinephrine administration methods.

A panelist discusses how a study of Neffy (epinephrine nasal spray) in Japan demonstrated effectiveness in treating 15 pediatric patients who experienced grade 2 allergic reactions during oral food challenges, with these moderate reactions including symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, wheezing, and mild cardiovascular effects according to the updated grading system from professional allergy societies.

A panelist discusses how Neffy offers significant advantages over traditional autoinjectors, including longer shelf life (24-30 months), better temperature tolerance, and needle-free administration that addresses several unmet needs in anaphylaxis management.

A panelist discusses how real-world cases demonstrate both the effectiveness of epinephrine when properly administered and the importance of ensuring patients actually carry their medication, through the stories of a college student with cashew allergy and a child undergoing a peanut challenge.

A panelist discusses how education about anaphylaxis recognition, early epinephrine administration, and addressing barriers like device portability remains crucial, with intranasal epinephrine potentially solving many existing challenges in anaphylaxis management.