Assets for the protected use of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)

On 19 June 2023, the MHRA, with the assist of allergy consciousness advocates, has launched a security marketing campaign to lift consciousness of anaphylaxis and supply recommendation on the usage of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs). The launch coincides with the World Allergy Week, an annual initiative led by the World Allergy Group.

A toolkit of sources is now out there for well being and social care professionals to assist the protected and efficient use of AAIs.

The sources are freely out there for obtain from the MHRA’s steerage web page on Adrenaline Auto-Injectors (AAIs) and embody:

infographic in regards to the right use of your AAI – see Welsh model

movies in regards to the right use of your AAI

Video in regards to the right use of your AAI

Welsh model of video in regards to the right use of your AAI

Recommendation for healthcare professionals: use the supplies to tell sufferers and caregivers what do if they believe anaphylaxis and tips on how to use adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)

prescribers ought to prescribe 2 AAIs to ensure sufferers all the time have a backup

discuss to your colleagues in regards to the protected use of AAIs and the indicators of anaphylaxis utilizing the mnemonic A, B, C for Airway, Respiratory and Circulation

report any suspected faulty AAIs to the Yellow Card scheme. Maintain faulty AAIs for investigation. Your report improves the security of medicines and medical gadget

Recommendation for healthcare professionals to offer to sufferers and carers: adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) ought to be used immediately if anaphylaxis is suspected, even when doubtful in regards to the severity of the occasion

indicators might embody swelling within the throat or tongue, wheezing or respiratory issue, dizziness, tiredness and confusion

instantly dial 999 to summon emergency medical assist after administering adrenaline; say anaphylaxis (“ana-fill-axis”)

if you’re not already mendacity down, lie down flat and lift your legs (when you’re pregnant, lie in your left aspect); this may help blood circulate to the center and very important organs

keep mendacity down even when you really feel higher

when you wrestle to breathe, you possibly can gently sit up – don’t change place immediately; it is best to then lie down once more as quickly as you possibly can

don’t arise even when somebody encourages you to

use your second AAI when you haven’t improved after 5 minutes

it is best to all the time carry 2 AAIs always; test the expiry dates and see a pharmacist when you want a alternative

report any suspected faulty AAIs to the Yellow Card scheme. Maintain faulty AAIs for investigation. Your report improves the security of medicines and medical units

About adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs)

Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) (product names Epipen or Jext) ship adrenaline by the use of an auto-injector gadget for the emergency therapy of anaphylaxis, a life-threatening extreme allergic response.

In October 2019 the Fee on Human Medicines (CHM) endorsed the formation of an Adrenaline Auto-injector Skilled Working Group (AAI EWG) to look at a variety of points to assist the efficient and protected use of AAIs for the emergency therapy of anaphylaxis.

One of many agreed actions for the group was to develop a communication marketing campaign in order that sufferers, healthcare professionals and the broader public may be higher outfitted to know the significance of AAIs as doubtlessly life-saving healthcare merchandise.

View the complete Public Evaluation Report: Suggestions to assist the efficient and protected use of adrenaline auto-injectors.

AAIs are meant for self-administration by the affected person or for administration by the affected person’s carer. AAIs ought to all the time be carried by the affected person thought of to be liable to anaphylaxis. An AAI ought to be administered early, on the first indicators of anaphylaxis, in keeping with clear proof that this improves affected person consequence. This requires the affected person and carer to be assured in recognising the early indicators of anaphylaxis and in distinguishing a extreme, life-threatening allergic response from one that’s much less extreme and doesn’t require adrenaline. Making this distinction may be difficult, given the big selection of indicators and signs of anaphylaxis. If there’s doubt in regards to the severity of an episode, adrenaline ought to be administered immediately because the dangers of delay outweigh the potential dangers from pointless administration of adrenaline.

Report adversarial drug reactions on a Yellow Card

Please proceed to report any suspected adversarial drug reactions to the Yellow Card scheme.

Healthcare professionals, sufferers, and caregivers are requested to submit reviews utilizing the Yellow Card scheme electronically utilizing:

the Yellow Card web site

the Yellow Card app; obtain from the Apple App Retailer or Google Play Retailer

some scientific IT methods for healthcare professionals (EMIS, SystmOne, Imaginative and prescient, MiDatabank, and Ulysses)

When reporting suspected adversarial drug reactions, please present as a lot data as attainable, together with details about medical historical past, any concomitant treatment, onset timing, and therapy dates. When reporting for a organic medication or vaccine, please be sure that you present the model title (or product licence quantity and producer), and the particular batch quantity.

Article quotation: Drug Security Replace quantity 16, situation 11: June 2023: 3.