Fresh advice has been issued to health professionals on dispensing EpiPens and other brands of pre-loaded 150 microgram adrenaline injectors. It comes from the UK Department of Health and Social Care and is being circulated to all pharmacists in the Isle of Man.
A global shortage of the devices resulted in the imposition in October of guidelines to health professionals, to ensure those people in most need could continue to obtain devices. Users were advised not to discard out of date EpiPens during the shortage.
However, stock levels have improved and are now sufficient to ensure that every patient with a prescription for auto-injectors can have at least two devices within expiry date or with a formally extended date.
The UK DHSC has warned that while the situation is improving, the backlog of patients awaiting EpiPens means supplies are likely to remain limited until the end of the year.
The updated protocol covers the questions patients should be asked to establish who is in greatest need, a fresh set of FAQs and an update on the extended usability of some batches of devices. The protocol comes into effect immediately.
