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Question: I have several patients who have severe allergies that always need to carry an epinephrine needle with them in case of an emergency. However, many of those patients fear needles and feel anxious at the thought of having to use the epi pen.

Are there alternatives to an epi pen?

Pennsylvania Subscriber

Answer: Yes, there is now a needle-free alternative to an epinephrine injector. In August 2024, ARS Pharmaceuticals received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its epinephrine nasal spray. The intranasal device delivers a 2 mg dose to help treat type 1 allergic reactions in adults and children weighing at least 66 pounds.

鈥淯ntil today, patients with severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, only had one treatment option 鈥� an often painful and anxiety-inducing needle injection of epinephrine,鈥� said Thomas B. Casale, MD, professor of medicine and pediatrics and chief of clinical and translational research in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine鈥檚 Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida in a .

鈥淚n some cases, patients would delay or not administer the lifesaving treatment at the onset of symptoms, increasing the risk for a severe reaction or negative outcomes requiring additional emergency medical treatment,鈥� Casale continued.

With a small size and easy-to-use design, patients can easily carry the nasal spray with them and quickly administer it if needed.

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC