People without medical training can correctly use neffy, a needle-free epinephrineEpinephrine Also called adrenaline, this hormone is used in emergency situations to reverse symptoms during a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). nasal spray for severe allergic reactions, according to a recent study published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Many people with conditions like systemic mastocytosis (SM) carry epinephrine because a dangerous reaction, known as anaphylaxisAnaphylaxis A severe allergic reaction that can turn fatal without treatment. Patients with SM are at a higher risk of developing anaphylaxis., can be fatal within minutes. Epinephrine can save a life, but for years it was only available as a needle injection. Some people fear needles, and others are unsure how to use the device, so they delay treatment or skip it. To overcome these problems, a pharmaceutical company designed a needle-free epinephrine spray called “neffy.”
The new study reviewed five tests done during neffy’s development. Altogether, 204 people participated, including adults and teens with allergies, caregivers, healthcare workers and random bystanders. Most received no training. They simply read the instructions and practiced with sample sprays filled only with air, containing no actual medicine.
Sign up here to get the latest news, perspectives, and information about SM sent directly to your inbox. Registration is free and only takes a minute.
Earlier tests revealed problems that the team then corrected. For example, one person mistook the spray for an injection, and another couldn’t press the plunger.
Based on these tests, the researchers revised the instructions. By the final round of testing, every participant used the device the right way, completing each step with no dosing errors.
Read more about SM treatment and care
The researchers also changed the second-dose instructions, which are needed if symptoms reocurr or get worse after 10 minutes. At first, they recommended spraying the second dose in the opposite nostril, but newer evidence showed the same nostril works equally well and is easier to aim, since patients can use the same side of their nose as their dominant hand.
“Taken together, these findings demonstrate that neffy can be reliably administered by patients, caregivers, and lay bystanders for both single and repeated dosing,” the researchers said.
The authors noted some limitations. Because all tests were done in simulated-use environments, the results may not fully reflect real-world conditions during anaphylaxis. Furthermore, the sprays held air rather than real medicine, so the study did not measure how well the drug itself works in the body.
