Patients with severe allergies need improved training and information about the use of self-injection devices, according to new European guidelines.
The advice follows an investigation into the adrenaline auto-injectors by the European Medicines Agency.
It was concerned that injections are sometimes ineffective because the patient only manages to get the needle under the skin – rather than into the muscle.
The agency had investigated whether some devices were flawed making it hard to reach the muscle.
Its conclusion, published in the last week, is that the key to effective use is teaching the patient.
It calls for the development of training devices for practice – and a check-list for prescribers to use to ensure patients have enough information.
The agency also called for more research into the effectiveness of different devices.
And, it says, patients should be given two injectors – and they can use the second dose if it is needed while they wait for emergency care.
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