In a first, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved ARS pharmaceuticals' nasal spray as the first needle-free emergency treatment for fatal allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. The spray will be sold under the brand name Neffy is being seen as an alternative to EpiPen and other autoinjectors.

What Is Anaphylaxis?

Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that happens immediately after you have been exposed to something you are allergic to. For example, peanuts can release a flood of chemicals into your immune system that leads your body into shock.

Neffy is a single-dose nasal spray administered into one nostril. It was approved for use in adult and pediatric patients who weigh at least 66 pounds. Kelly Stone, an associate director at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said, "Some people, particularly children, may delay or avoid treatment due to fear of injections." She further added that the availability of the nasal spray may reduce barriers to rapid treatment.

What To Do When You Feel an Allergic Reaction?

If you begin to feel an exercise-induced allergy, make sure to immediately stop what you are doing and take a rest. Also, call the emergency services if the symptoms escalate. Apart from breathlessness, if you have a weak and rapid pulse, confusion, and loss of consciousness you need to go to a hospital.

Doctors advise taking an epinephrine auto-injector, which helps mitigate the reaction in an emergency. However, do not try to give oral medications to someone unable to breathe, as it may be necessary to begin CPR while waiting for emergency responders. If you don’t know how to perform CPR, try to find someone who does.

It is important to consult your doctor for a complete physical exam if you have experienced exercise-induced anaphylaxis. Keep a record of the foods you eat and the conditions you are in before exercising. Most importantly, figure out how long before exercise you should avoid the offending food, trigger, or allergen.

Avoid exercising outdoors during allergy season and in extreme temperatures. Exercise with a partner who is aware of your condition and who will know what to do in an emergency.

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