A warning has been issued about a drug used to treat severe allergic reactions. The distributors of EpiPen and EpiPen Junior have advised caution in their use. The drug, containing adrenaline, is injected when sufferers feel a reaction coming on. In the form of a "pen-injection", it is used by people with strong allergies to things such as bee stings, peanuts and seafood. It is manufactured by Meridian Medical Technologies in the US and distributed in Ireland by ALK, a British company.
A company spokesman said that although 90 per cent of auto-injectors from certain batches were completely effective, the remaining 10 per cent may contain insufficient adrenaline for treatment. More than 720 of the pens are in circulation in the Republic. The spokesman said that, as was usual with the product, a second dose should be given if the symptoms were still present 15 minutes after the first injection, and immediate medical help should be obtained. He said replacements would be made available as soon as possible.
The chief executive of the Irish Medicines Board, Dr John Kelly, said this was a "very rarely used" product. He said notices were to be placed in national newspapers to advise of the caution concerning the drug. People who were concerned should contact their GP.
The affected batch numbers are: EpiPen Auto-Injector 806509/ M013977, 806509/M014143, 725902, 732213. EpiPen Junior Auto-Injector 725901, 806507/ M014047, and 806507/M014131.