Anti-allergic agents

Hayfever medicine made available over the counter

The allergy and hayfever medicine Allevia (fexofenadine hydrochloride) 120mg tablets have been moved from a prescription-only medicine to the General Sales List.…

NICE updates anaphylaxis guidance to ensure patients carry two adrenaline injectors in response to coroner’s report

Healthcare professionals should always offer people with allergies a prescription for two further adrenaline injectors before discharge from hospital and advise patients to carry these with them at all times, updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has s…

Hair dye allergy test is first to be switched from prescription only

The first allergy test for hair dye to be formally reclassified from a prescription-only medicine to a general sale list medicine has been switched, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has announced.…

Researchers make breakthrough in potential treatment for peanut allergy

Children and young people with peanut allergy may be able to protect themselves from accidental ingestion by building up their tolerance to peanut protein over time, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has shown.…

Coroner calls on MHRA to take action over ‘inherently unsafe’ EpiPen

The coroner who investigated the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse has said the EpiPen’s “inadequate dose of adrenaline for anaphylaxis and an inadequate length needle” raises serious safety concerns.…

Pharmacists face continued EpiPen shortages

Pharmacists in the UK are having to ration stocks of EpiPen, a first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, as a result of ongoing shortages.…

Leading brand of condoms recalled after failing required safety standards

Specific batches of Durex condoms are being recalled after they failed to pass required safety standards.…

More than 40 hay fever risk genes uncovered by international study

Researchers have discovered more than 40 risk genes associated with hay fever, including 20 not previously known about.…

Accurately diagnosing antibiotic allergies

Diagnosing true drug allergy can be challenging and it is important that patients are managed appropriately.…

High pollen levels trigger ‘particularly bad’ hay fever

Airborne pollen could reach the highest levels seen for 12 years, the Met Office has warned.…