If you’re like a lot of other families with school-aged children who have food allergies, the hot, humid days of summer are also prime time for an annual visit to the allergist. Many of us check in with our medical teams to update paperwork for school, renew epinephrine prescriptions, and evaluate our allergy management plans ahead of a new school year. Whether you’ve got a visit to the allergist scheduled in the near future or it’s a bit further off, the following list is worth preparing and reviewing with your doctor.
New Epinephrine Options
The EpiPen was approved by the FDA in 1987. In 2013, AuviQ hit the market. It was a new shape (more like a credit card than pen) and it provided audible instructions to walk you through administration of the drug once you removed the cap. There were other delivery systems available as well, but they all had the same thing in common. They were needles. A new option was approved and released to market in September 2024.
Neffy is different from previous epinephrine prescriptions. It’s not an injection. It’s a nasal inhaler. If giving (or receiving) an injection has made you delay administration of epinephrine in the past, or if you’ve worried about having to give/get a shot in an emergency, Neffy may be something to consider. When you meet with your allergist for your annual visit, ask to review all your options for epinephrine and discuss the right solution for you.
Note: There may soon be additional alternatives available on the market. Ask your allergist for information on upcoming research and FDA trials. The FDA has accepted Aquestive Therapeutics’ application for a sublingual epinephrine film. If approved, patients would have access to a small tab that could be placed under the tongue for the administration of epinephrine in response to an allergic reaction. The company anticipates approval in early 2026.
Can You Reduce Risk?
Xolair (omalizumab) is not a new drug. It entered the market as a treatment for severe persistent asthma in 2003. It is, however, new in terms of its application for food allergies. In February 2024, the FDA approved Xolair as a treatment for food allergies. It is not a cure, allergic individuals still need to avoid their allergens. It can, however, mitigate the risk of severe, life-threatening reactions due to accidental exposure in certain patients. Talk to an allergist about whether Xolair might be right for you or your child. Xolair is an injection administered every 2-4 weeks.
Reevaluate
Your allergist may order blood work or conduct skin allergy testing for the allergens you’ve already identified. Sure, testing isn’t fun, but it is important. Before you push back on the procedure, talk to your allergist about why she’s looking to retest.
Your doctor is likely looking for patterns over time that could indicate your child (or you!) may be outgrowing an allergy. They may be evaluating the need to change or amend your allergy action plan. Test results can give your allergist a more complete picture.
Make Your List And Check It Twice
Have you noticed an occasional weird rash that crops up from time to time? Do you feel a little ‘off’ when you eat an old favorite? You might not be sure if it’s a response to traces of an existing allergy or an indication that something new is a factor. Keep a journal during the year to look for patterns. Does that red patch on your arm appear when you use a certain sunscreen? Do you find the queasy feeling is more likely to crop up when you eat a certain sort of food? Review your notes with your allergist who can evaluate the potential triggers and order testing if he deems appropriate.
Other Tools & Tips
From apps that help you identify potential allergens on popular chain restaurant menus to packs and bags that help you tote around your autoinjector at the optimum temperature, there are a plethora of products pitched to those of us living with food allergies. Talk to your allergist about what products might make your life easier and which aren’t worth the investment.
