Chemists have been told by the NHS to check whether young children are in urgent need of adrenaline pens before dispensing the devices. Pharmacists must ask parents and carers how many auto-adrenaline injectors they have before deciding how many to give
Chemists have been told by the NHS to check whether young children are in urgent need of adrenaline pens before dispensing the devices. Pharmacists must ask parents and carers how many auto-adrenaline injectors they have before deciding how many to give. Only children who have no pens - including expired but usable devices - should get the standard prescription of two pens, the guidance says.It follows a shortage of EpiPens, the adrenaline pen most often prescribed.
The new NHS guidance to pharmacists and dispensing doctors relates to 0.15mg pens, prescribed to children who weigh less than 25kg (four stone). The Department of Health told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme new supplies were "expected within the next week" and patients with the greatest need would be prioritised.
Adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) are prescribed to people with potentially serious allergies, such as to:
nuts
milk
fish
shellfish
eggs
some fruits
People are recommended to keep two of the devices with them at all times for cases of anaphylaxis - a severe and sometimes life-threatening reaction often caused by allergies - as one is not always enough. They can be used only once and usually have an expiry date that lasts for a minimum of 12 months. A global shortage of EpiPens has had a knock-on effect on the alternative brands of auto-adrenaline injectors, Jext and Emerade, which are now also in short supply. The new guidance from the NHS says a "critical supply issue" for 0.15mg pens means they need to be conserved for those who "truly need them".
It says pharmacists and dispensing doctors must follow a flowchart of questions, or a "validation protocol", before dispensing the pens to patients, "other than when there is an immediate clinical need".
The flowchart involves checking with parents and carers how many of the devices the patients have, including expired ones that are not discoloured and do not contain particles.
It says pharmacists and dispensing doctors should give:
two devices for those who have no pens, including no expired ones that are usable (i.e. pens that are not discoloured and do not contain particles)
one device for those who have one pen they can use - either an in-date device or an expired but usable one
a delayed prescription for those who have two pens that are in date or one pen that is in date and one that has expired but is still usable
Pens kept at schools and nurseries are not included. The guidance says: "The purpose of the validation is to ensure that every eligible patient has at least one in-date device and that a situation is avoided where some patients have two in-date devices, whilst others have none.
"This does mean that many patients will have to carry one in-date pen and one expired pen. We are aware of this and clinical experts have agreed this advice until the shortage eases." The Department of Health and Social Care said that if no new devices can be obtained, expired pens can be used in an emergency, "as this is safer than not using them".
The department says expired devices, as long as they are not discoloured, containing particles, or showing other signs of damage, will not be dangerous but the potency of the adrenaline may have reduced.
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