First nasal spray for allergic reactions now available in UK
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the adrenaline (epinephrine) nasal spray (EURneffy) for emergency treatment.
The manufacturer, ARS Pharma, has been contacted for comment about whether it plans to seek wider approval for use on the NHS.
Julian Beach, MHRA interim executive director of healthcare quality and access, said: 'Patient safety is our top priority, which is why we're pleased to approve the first needle-free nasal spray formulation of adrenaline for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in the UK.
'Until now, adrenaline for self-administration has only been available via auto-injectors.
'While this represents an important new option, adrenaline auto-injectors remain a vital and potentially life-saving treatment, giving people experiencing anaphylaxis valuable time before emergency help arrives.
'We continue to encourage everyone at risk of severe allergic reactions, and those around them, to familiarise themselves with how to respond in an emergency.
'Resources and guidance are available on the MHRA website to help people be prepared.'
Anaphylaxis is a sudden and life-threatening allergic reaction that can cause a drop in blood pressure and breathing difficulties.
EURneffy is intended for use in adults and children who weigh 30kg (about 66lb) or more, and can be used even if people have colds or blocked noses.
It is a single dose nasal spray that delivers its entire contents (2mg) upon activation.
People are reminded that the plunger should not be pressed before inserting the product into the nostril, otherwise the single dose will be lost.
The MHRA said patients should always carry two nasal sprays with them in case a second dose is needed, and tell family and friends where it is.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
I thought my snoring was caused by a blocked nose – it was actually a sign of a skull-eroding disease
WHEN Claire Barbery first started snoring, she didn't think much of i t. But the blocked nose the 51-year-old from Newquay, Cornwall, had been battling turned out to be something serious - a tumour eating away at the base of her skull. 4 The mum-of-two nearly cancelled the hospital appointment that led to her diagnosis because she didn't want to 'waste the time' of the NHS. 'There's nothing wrong, I thought. But looking back, that decision could have cost me my life," she added. 'I started snoring, which I'd never done before. I was waking myself up, breathing through my mouth rather than my nose. 'Even then, I nearly cancelled my hospital appointment. I didn't want to waste anyone's time. I just left it and thought it was something to do with having had Covid the month before.' Claire had been experiencing a continuous blockage in one side of her nose and initially put it down to the effects of regular Covid testing while working in a care home. After a steroid spray failed to help, she sought medical advice in January 2023. Following scans and a biopsy, doctors delivered the news she had olfactory neuroblastoma - a rare cancer developing in the upper part of the nasal cavity. The 5cm tumour had already begun eroding bone at the base of her skull. She underwent complex surgery at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital to have it removed. Claire has now partnered with UK charity - the Get A-Head Charitable Trust to raise awareness of World Head and Neck Cancer Day today, which was yesterday (27 July). The most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer - as patients share their stories She added: 'If you know your body, then you've got to push. 'If there's something wrong, don't ignore it.' The procedure in January last year was performed by consultant surgeon Shahz Ahmed, who specialises in skull base procedures. It was filmed as part of the Channel 5 documentary 'Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death'. Mr Ahmed said: 'Claire had a very rare form of cancer that needed to be removed. 'Untreated, it could have metastasized and spread into the neck and the rest of the body. 4 4 'It had already gone through the skull base into the base of the brain and if left, it would have become harder and harder to treat.' The delicate operation involved removing the tumour, along with Claire's olfactory bulbs - meaning she has permanently lost her sense of smell - and reconstructing the area between her nose and brain. Mr Ahmed added: 'The key worries were operating between the left and the right eye. 'The main blood supply to the brain is in very close proximity so the risk of seizures, stroke, injury to the brain and loss of life, were all very real. 'Thankfully, the surgery was a huge success and Claire suffered no complications.' Following surgery, Claire underwent six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is now under regular review with her medical team. She is gradually returning to work and since treatment finished has been enjoying holidays with her husband Gary as well as spending more time with daughters Lowenna, 27, and Keizha, 25.
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fit and healthy father-of-two left with 'locked-in syndrome' after suffering devastating health condition which is on the rise in under 50s
A previously fit-and-healthy dad was left 'locked in his body' after a headache turned out to be a life-altering stroke. In April 2022, Gareth Bayley, from Bexley in South East London suffered from headaches for around a week, but shrugged them off as being caused by every day stress. But, when the builder suddenly called his wife Karen to say he didn't feel well while at work, she knew something was wrong. She rushed to his workplace where his colleagues told her he had collapsed and suffered a fit. He was rushed to hospital where he continued to have seizures, but it wasn't until the next day that doctors realised he'd had a stroke. Mr Bayley, who was only 38-years-old at the time, suffered a stroke in his brain stem, which meant it had life-altering consequences. It led him to develop Locked-In Syndrome, a rare neurological condition that leaves a patient almost completely paralysed while remaining fully conscious. Despite doctors telling the family the father would likely never move again, his wife says over three years later, he 'has defied every single expectation'. While he cannot speak or move his limbs, he remains mentally alert—and has regained small but significant functions such as facial expressions. He even communicates with his family through blinking, spelling out words one letter at a time. Now, his wife and the kids are on a mission to raise £35,000 for life-changing equipment—that could help Gareth regain vital movement. She said: 'Gareth is one in a million to me. He's very outgoing and the life and soul of the party. He was the first one there if anyone needed help. 'He is still him—he's fully there and remembers everything. It's just he can't speak or move. 'It's like he's trapped in his own body. Doctors told us he would likely never move again, apart from slight eye movements. 'But Gareth is a fighter. Over the past three years, he has regained some movement: he smiles, he laughs, and his expressions have returned in ways we were told might never happen. 'Every small step forward has given us hope that more recovery is possible.' The family are even more hopeful as of late after hearing about a special piece of equipment called a Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike. This is a rehabilitation device that uses electrical pulses to stimulate paralysed muscles and could enable Gareth's arms and legs to move together However, it can only be sourced from the United States—and comes with a hefty price tag of £35,000. She added: 'We did try to get it funded as he is in a care home, but because it was so expensive, the funding got refused as it wasn't deemed an 'essential piece of equipment'. 'But to us it is essential. If I can get him this bike it will be amazing. 'It would help increase his muscle strength, prevent pressure sores, improve the movement range with his arms and legs, help his joint mobility, and help his muscle spasms. 'It could give Gareth the best possible chance at further recovery, independence, and dignity. Since his stroke, Gareth has been moved between hospitals, rehab centres, and care homes. But his wife hopes he can live with her and the children again if they secure the bike. She said: 'My husband has expressed that he wants to come home and be with me and the children again. But it's the case of getting the equipment. 'He has physio once a week in his care home and they've said if we can get the equipment, I can have training. The goal is then to have him back home again.' His wife described the public's response to the father's story as overwhelmingly supportive. The devoted wife said: 'It's been amazing. The response I've had from it has been fantastic. 'It's a little overwhelming—people who don't even know me or my husband have donated money and been so generous. 'It's been completely life-changing – he was 38 and I didn't associate a stroke with someone that age. 'But you don't know what can happen overnight, it's turned our world upside down.' It comes amid a surge in stroke cases among young people, with those under 55 seeing cases soar by 67 per cent between 2002 and 2018. Some experts believe may be due to younger people vaping, drinking alcohol and smoking weed.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Listeria: Spinach and mixed leaves recalled due to detection
Spinach and mixed leaves products are being recalled due to the detection of listeriosis in the Republic of seven products are produced by McCormack Family Friday, the the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said it was investigating as an "extensive outbreak" of the bacterial infection, which has been linked to one death and nine confirmed day prior, over a hundred ready meals were removed from supermarket shelves in what has been described as a "full precautionary recall". The Spinach and mixed leaves products are branded under the McCormack Family Farms name as well as Tesco, Egan's and have been asked to remove the implicated products from sale and display recall notices at are advised not to eat the implicated Family Farms have been approached for comment. Last week, 141 ready-made products were recalled "due to a link with the outbreak".The various branded prepared meals and side dishes are produced by Ballymaguire Foods and are sold in many supermarkets in the country, including Tesco, Aldi, Centra and a statement, Ballymaguire Foods, which is based in Dublin, said it initiated a "full precautionary recall of all products produced at one of our facilities following the identification of listeria bacteria as part of a quality control check".The company apologised to customers. What is listeria? Listeria infection is an illness caused by bacteria that can spread through name for the illness is can be very serious for pregnant women, people over the age of 65, and those with weakened immune of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and rare cases, the infection can become more severe, leading to serious incubation period (the time between initial infection and the first appearance of symptoms) averages about three weeks, but can range from three to 70 days.
